Mamata seeks public opinion on 'parrot CBI'

Amid clamour for a CBI probe into the raging Saradha Group chit fund scam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday sought public opinion on the Supreme Court describing the agency as "a caged parrot speaking in its master's voice".

"Please see what the Hon'ble Supreme Court has said. CBI has become caged parrot speaking in its master's voice. What do you think? Opinion please," Banerjee said on a social networking site.

A bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha had made the remark on CBI director Ranjit Sinha's second affidavit filed Monday, stating that Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and officials of the Prime Minister's Office and the coal ministry had made certain changes in the agency's report on the allocation of coal blocks.

Several public interest litigations have been filed before the Calcutta High Court seeking a probe by the country's premier investigation agency into what is being perceived as the biggest financial scandal to rock the state.

The opposition Left Front in the state and the Congress have also been demanding a CBI probe, but the Trinamool Congress government is yet to relent on the issue, arguing that the state machinery was doing a commendable job.