The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday dubbed it as a matter of “great shame” that the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal was opposing the Calcutta High Court order to hand over the custody of suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh to the CBI in the ED officers attack case.
Addressing a press conference, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the state government’s decision to move the Supreme Court against the high court order reflects its “value system”.
The BJP leader said the TMC is not denying the offence and has gone on to provide “political cover” to Sheikh. It is not the accused but the state that has gone in appeal to the Supreme Court, he said.
“The state government allows such incidents to happen and then does this,” the minister said, adding that it was a matter of “great shame”.
The high court had on Tuesday directed the investigation into a mob attack on ED officials — when they went to search the premises of Sheikh in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on January 5 in connection with a ration scam probe - to be transferred to the CBI.
Puri also quoted from the high court’s Tuesday order which criticised the “biased” state police for “making every effort to delay” the investigation.
BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi said it is shameful that such a development is happening in a state ruled by a woman chief minister, a reference to TMC president Mamata Banerjee.
Taking a swipe at the state government, she asked what is the reason that it is trying to “protect” Sheikh and asserted that the agitation has been spearheaded by women in Sandeshkhali.
People will surely give a reply to the TMC, he said.
The West Bengal government is, however, reinforcing the public perception that there is a “total breakdown” of law and order, he said, adding that BJP workers were earlier violently targeted after elections.
Most victims in Sandeshkhali are from SC and ST communities, he said while accusing the TMC of trying to shield a “rapist”.
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