CPI-M accuses Mamata of launching vilification campaign

The CPI(M) today accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of launching a "vilification campaign" against the party's state unit regarding its bank account.
In a statement here, the CPI(M) Politburo said the SBI account in the names of senior leaders, Biman Basu and Nirupam Sen, "is not their personal account but the account of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal State Committee."
"The SBI account is fully reflected in the statement of accounts sent by the West Bengal State Committee to the Central Committee. The amounts in the SBI account have always been incorporated in the consolidated statement of accounts submitted by the Central Committee to the Income Tax Department," the statement said.

It said Banerjee "has launched a vilification campaign against the CPI(M)" regarding the account of the West Bengal State Committee.
Addressing a panchayat election rally last week, the Trinamool Congress chief had demanded an investigation into it and asked "now, who is the thief?"
The CPI(M) state leaders had then said there was nothing secret about the account. "It is known to all that our party funds are enriched by the levy deposited by our party MPs, MLAs, councillors and even workers which helps us to run the party," senior state leader Robin Deb had said.