Mamata attacks Centre, a day after blast probe shifts to NIA

Mamata Banerjee today launched a blistering attack against the Centre, a day after it suo motu handing over the Burdwan blast probe to the NIA, saying there was an increasing trend of interference in state matters ever since the new government took over, which is "unprecedented, undemocratic and unethical".
"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," the West Bengal Chief Minister wrote on Facebook.
"I feel like sharing with my Facebook friends that ever since the new Government has come to power at the Centre, there is an increasing trend of interference by the Central Government in the state matters," Banerjee said without mentioning the Burdwan blast.

She said that the central government was these days acting more like a political party.
"I am in politics since my childhood days, and my public life spans over more than 26 years," Banerjee said.
"The beauty of the federal structure is the separate work jurisdiction of the Centre and the State and some by both. Primarily, the role of the Central Government is to deal with matters concerning major policies/decision making issues. It is expected that the Centre and the States do not encroach upon the areas of activities of others," she said.

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

"In my view, the need of the hour is to share it with all friends who believe in federalism and democracy. Let us be united to combat the communal forces. Let us work together to protect our federal structure as per our Constitution," she said.
The Centre yesterday decided to hand over to NIA the probe into the bomb blast in Burdwan in West Bengal in which the role of terror groups is suspected, a decision which the Trinamool Congress government said was taken suo motu.
The West Bengal government yesterday said the Centre took the decision on its own and "no opinion has been given by the state government side".