In the wake of recent ED (Enforcement Directorate) raids in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a fierce and direct attack. Addressing thousands on the streets of Kolkata, Mamata alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah was involved in the coal scam, revealing she possesses solid evidence stored on a 'pen drive'.
Mamata Banerjee issued a stern warning, saying that if the central government and investigation agencies put undue pressure on her government, she would reveal all evidence. She noted that she has remained reserved due to her constitutional position but asserted that she would not stay silent if the 'Lakshman Rekha' is crossed. She declared, "I do not speak recklessly for national interest. If I open my mouth, there would be turmoil across the world."
Mamata reiterated, “I have the pen drives. Out of respect for my position, I have remained silent. Do not push me too far. I will reveal everything, and the entire nation will be stunned. Remember, it’s their good fortune that I hold a constitutional position; that's why I have not disclosed the pen drives. But if they harass me excessively, I warn you—I have all the pen drives. I will expose everything. My tolerance has a boundary. Remember, there is a 'Lakshman Rekha'.”
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ED Raids Conducted
The ED's actions stem from investigations into alleged illegal coal mining under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act). The agency claims that transactions linked to illegally acquired funds involve crores of rupees in suspicious dealings connected with I-PAC. Meanwhile, Mamata dismissed accusations of interference in the investigation, stating she was on-site in her capacity as the party president to safeguard election strategies.
Critics, however, questioned how senior IAS and IPS officers accompanied her at the raid site if she was acting in a party leader capacity, not as the Chief Minister.
Further, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the coal scam funds ultimately reached Amit Shah, even naming BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. She questioned the role of BSF and CISF, pointing out that central agencies failed to curb coal smuggling.
