Kolkata: A furious West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today threw an open challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to arrest her in the Saradha chit fund scam, hours after her Transport Minister Madan Mitra was arrested by the CBI here after questioning.
Speaking to mediapersons, Mamata Banerjee announced protests and demonstrations against the CBI in West Bengal from tomorrow. She also said, she would go and meet her minister Madan Mitra in custody.
"This is a preposterous conspiracy to weaken federal democracy in India. They (Centre) have opened up the doors now by arresting our minister, without intimating me or the Assembly speaker. Similarly, our police can arrest any minister from the Centre on any ground in future", said Banerjee.
The chief minister said, Madan Mitra, as an elected MLA from Bishnupur had attended an event organised by Saradha company.
"So many political leaders get invitations to attend functions. Should we probe all the organisers. So many people write to me for best wishes. Should I probe the antecedents of all of them?", asked Mamata Banerjee.
The chief minister lashed out at the CBI for what she called "political vendetta".
"They arrested Tumpai (Trinamool MP Srinjoy Bose) on ground of criminal offence. Is it not overlapping of jurisdictions of the state and the Centre? Law and order is the subject of state governments", said Banerjee.
The Trinamool supremo alleged that BJP leadership was working on an agenda to weaken India's secular fabric. "They forcibly converted people in Agra, and today one of their Governors spoke like an active party worker (on Ram Temple)", said Banerjee.
