Narada News sting puts Trinamool Congress in a spot

The sting operation tapes allegedly show ministers, MPs and MLAs from ruling party taking bribes

A sting operation by a news portal, Narada, allegedly showing ministers, MPs and MLAs from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) taking bribes has caused turmoil.

Narada News issued tapes of the operation allegedly involving 14 TMC leaders, which it said were conducted over two years. The release was done at a news conference in Delhi on Monday, with less than a month to go before the West Bengal legislative assembly election.

The tapes apparently show ministers and legislators accepting cash in return for favours such as lobbying for a fictitious company, Impex Consultancy. A journalist from the portal presented himself as a representative of the company to seek help from them.

For opposition parties, the timing of the 52-hour footage couldn’t have been better. CPI(M) state head Surjya Kanta Mishra has said the polls should be postponed till the Election Commission ensured the money was not used to influence people’s verdict.  

“If it requires promulgation of President’s Rule, it should be done,” he said.

Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, head of the state’s Congress party, said Bengal was being run by a pack of thieves. Bharatiya Janata Party head Siddharth Nath Singh demanded Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s (pictured) resignation.

The CM, campaigning in North Bengal, said the opposition had resorted to a smear campaign ahead of the elections. TMC Vice-President Mukul Roy said the video was doctored. Education Minister Partha Chatterjee questioned the timing of the release.

“Why did they come with the manufactured video on the eve of the election? It is a political conspiracy. We are going to take legal action,” he said.

Journalist Mathew Samuel of the news portal, who led the team that conducted the ‘sting’, said the timing was a coincidence. He said the portal had no political backing.