TMC cold shoulders demand for NIA probe into Burdwan blast

Rahul Sinha claimed that TMC did not want an NIA probe as its links with the terrorists would be exposed

Cold shouldering the demand for NIA investigation into the Burdwan blast, West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee today expressed confidence in the ongoing CID probe and charged the Opposition with trying to break the administration's morale by showing lack of confidence in it. “We have full confidence in the local administration and the police. We do not find anything wrong for which we require NIA advice on certain things,” Chatterjee, who holds the education portfolio and is also the Trinamool Congress secretary-general told reporters at the party headquarters here.

“NIA officers had come to the area (of the blast) and they have been given the information they sought,” Chatterjee said to questions asking why he felt that NIA probe was not required into the October 2 blast in which two suspected militants were killed.

To repeated questions why the state government was not for an NIA probe, he said “We are not opposing. We have faith in the administration. The role of the police is praiseworthy. Since the matter has importance all (agencies of the state government) are looking into it. We want that truth should come to light. We keep faith in the police.

They have the experience to handle a case of this nature. So far the investigation is progressing well and the job of the police is praiseworthy. Those who want to have this (inquiry) through the Centre, I say (to them) that time has not yet come. Be patient,” he said adding “There is no use to muddying the water by raking up the NIA (investigation into the Burdwan blast).”

Hitting out at BJP, which has been demanding NIA probe into the blast that claimed the lives of two suspected terrorists with links with HuJI and Al Jihad, Chatterjee said, “We do not need to learn patriotism from BJP. We know the history of BJP.

It is Trinamool Congress under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee which has always stood for national integration, secularism, progress and socialism.There is attempt to divide India. We will resist that,” he added.

Chatterjee accused BJP, CPI(M) and the Congress of jointly trying to stall the development in the state and create anarchy, he said.

“In every step attempts are being made to weaken the administration and break its morale. We condemn this,” he said. “BJP and CPI(M) does not want the good of the state. They do not want to keep faith in the administration. They want to oppose everything being done by the state government by all means,” he said and alleged that the opposition party leaders were moving from district to district and inciting the people of the state against TMC.

Referring to the Left and the Congress in the state, which he claimed had become mere 'signboards', Chatterjee said “They are doing all this despite getting defeated by Trinamool Congress in election and after election.”

He alleged that the Opposition's only job was to malign the chief minister. Contending that NIA intervention will be an attack on federalism, Trinamool Cong-ress has been opposing the probe by the central agency.

CID and a composite task force drawn from various state investigating agencies, are probing the blast, in which four persons, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the explosion in a house at Khagragarh area of Burdwan district killing two suspected militants.