Saradha scam: Opposition hits streets, Trinamol stir at CBI office on

The raging Saradha scam issue saw West Bengal's opposition Left Front, Congress and BJP hit the streets Friday even as the ruling Trinamool Congress continued its sit-in demonstration outside the CBI office protesting against the "misuse" of the agency to settle political scores.

Four women's organisations affiliated to the Left parties took out a protest rally in the Salt Lake area and demonstrated outside the Bidhannagar police commissionerate denouncing the Trinamool government for "being a party" to the multi-crore rupee scam.

Decrying the Mahila Trinamool Congress for its demonstration against the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Left women's organisations demanded a proper inquiry into the scam "which has reduced laksh of poor people into penury". They also called for the arrest of all influential people who were the beneficiaries of the graft.

"We demand the CBI arrest ministers, MPs and even the chief minister if their guilt is proved through a proper probe. Lakhs of poor depositors who have lsot money must be refunded. Families of around 100 chit fund agents who have committes suicide should be given monetary help," said All India Democratic Women's Association leader Rekha Goswami.

Refering to the Trinamool demonstration outside the CBI office, she said" "Just because there is now a question mark over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's honesty, the law minister is breaking the law to lead a sit-in. We condemn such despicable politics."

They also blocked a busy road close to the commissionerate.

The Bharatiya Janata Party laid siege outside the Bidhannagar (North) police station as also in north Bengal's Siliguri town protesting against the alleged role played by Trinamool leaders in "facilitating" the scam and demanding arrest of all culprits.

Similar protests were organised outside the Bhowanipore police station in the city and Baharampur in Murshidabad district.

The Congress workers tried to move in a procession towards the CGO complex housing the CBI office, but were stopped about 300 metres away by the police.

On the other hand, with Law Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya in the forefront, Mahila Trinamool Congress activists staged the sit-in outside the CBI office for the second day.

"We will continue our ptrotest daily for an indefinite period. We are here to protest against the misuse of the CBI to tarnish the image of our party and that of our chief Mamata Banerjee," said Bhattacharya.

She said the chit funds were born during the 34-year-long rule of the Left Front, while Saradha came into being in 2007-08 when also it was in power.

"The central departments gave approval to Saradha. The LF was in league with the centre in helping out Saradga. But now the BJP government has ordered the CBI to re-route the probe. It is politically motivated and an example of vindictive politics," she said.

The Communist Party of india-Marxist (CPI-M) announced that its youth, student, women and labour wings would take out a protest rally from Subodh Mullick Square to Rani Rashmoni Road in the heart of the city.

"We appeal to all - irrespective of party affiliation - to join us in the rally which will demand confiscation of the property of all chit fund owners and leaders and ministers who benefited from the scam. This is just the beginning. We will spread our movement to the districts," said CPI-M central committee member Shyamal Chakraborty and state secretariat member Sujon Chakraborty.

The Left-affiliated youth organisations will organise a public rally at Rani Rashmoni Road on Sep 14.