With just ten days to the first phase of voting, the names of anti-corruption agencies are resounding through election slogans. In the political battle of presenting themselves as incorruptible, everyone is reminding the public of their commitment to imprisoning the corrupt. While on one hand actions against corruption promise to strengthen democracy, on the other hand, fears persist that the same actions are turning democracy into a 'prisonocracy'.
As part of this unfolding drama, TMC leaders staged a sit-in outside the Election Commission's office on Monday, demanding the removal of the heads of all investigative agencies. Ten TMC leaders were spotted sitting outside the EC office, protesting for the replacement of agency chiefs. Following their demonstration, the police took them from outside the commission's office to the station, where the leaders then initiated a sit-in protest.
The TMC accused the Delhi Police of detaining all the protesters, an allegation the police have since refuted. The Temple Road police station in Delhi stated that no arrests have been made. The leaders are free to leave; they are sitting inside the police station by choice. Meanwhile, a TMC delegation of 10 members led by Abhishek Banerjee met with Bengal's Governor Dr. C.V. Anand Bose. Banerjee criticized the Election Commission for not taking action against the NIA SP in Bengal. Banerjee expressed that the Governor assured them of taking action on this matter.
Debate over four agencies dominates the 2024 election narrative-
CBI- Established in 1963.ED- Established in 1956.NIA- Established in 2008.Income Tax Department- Pre-exists independence.
The upcoming 2024 elections are revolving around these four institutions. The BJP claims that investigative agencies are independently clamping down on corruption, while the opposition alleges that the ruling party is using these agencies to break the opposition's backbone. TMC leaders have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission claiming a lack of a level playing field due to these directors and have urged for their immediate replacement.
Why the protest against investigative agencies?
To understand why there is a protest against ED, CBI, NIA, and the Income Tax Department, we need to pay attention to Monday's major news. ED called AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak for questioning in the Delhi liquor scam on the very same day. ED also questioned Kejriwal's aide, Vaibhav, on Monday.
ED summoned Amol Kirtikar, Uddhav's party candidate from Northwest Mumbai, in connection with the 'khichdi' scam, all on the same Monday. These actions by the investigation agencies, and earlier ones too, have led to allegations by several leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, that the government is focused on destroying the opposition through arrests before and after elections.
Abhishek Banerjee targets BJP
Source: aajtak
Following his meeting with the Governor, Abhishek Banerjee stated that the manner in which women MPs and leaders were dragged is an assassination of democracy, for which the Election Commission is responsible. 'The machinery is now under the Commission's control, hence my assertion', Banerjee said. 'Our leaders were sitting peacefully; were they armed? We went to the Election Commission and told them to let the government do its job and rebuild the houses destroyed by the storm in Jalpaiguri. We also requested that NIA SP D.R. Singh, who met a BJP leader at their residence after the code of conduct was enforced, be removed. Why are officers changed on BJP’s complaint, but nothing happens when we show evidence?'
'Why won't the NIA Director be changed?'
Banerjee questioned, 'Those who think they can use the NIA and ED before the vote, will the NIA vote? They are not even capable of contesting two seats. Let the ED and NIA Directors contest in those two seats. We have requested the Governor to write to the Election Commission regarding this. If the Bengal DGP can be changed on BJP’s behest without evidence, why can't the NIA Director also be replaced?' The Governor of Bengal has said that he will bring up the issue with the Election Commission on Tuesday. He believes in a fair game.
