With NIA in, Mamata accuses Modi of attacking federalism

In the wake of NIA taking up the probe in the Oct 2 explosion in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday hit out at the Narendra Modi government for "interfering in state matters and jeopardising federalism".

"It is expected that Centre and the States do not encroach upon the areas of activities of others. But, now-a-days, the central government tends to frequently and unnecessarily interfere in state matters what is not at all expected as per our Constitution," Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress chief said, on her Facebook page.

Notwithstanding the Banerjee regime's opposition, the union home ministry Thursday directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the explosion in Khagragarh in Burdwan district in which two militants were killed and another injured.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist have been pressing for a NIA probe alleging the Trinamool of trying to cover up the probe, the ruling party has been constantly expressing its faith on the state police and opposed the NIA probe contending it would be an attack on federalism.

Banerjee also attacked the Modi government over the public broadcaster Doordarshan live telecasting the annual Vijaya Dashmi address of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat.

"Even certain controversial matters are coming up in electronic media like Doordarshan and private channels are being persuaded, resulting in fomenting communal tension in different states. This is being done with active support of the Central Government, which is acting like a political party.

"This practice is unprecedented, undemocratic and unethical. This marks a dangerous signal of violation of the Constitutional norms, jeopardizing the federal structure and democratic fibre of our country," added Banerjee.