Won't be cowed down by CBI, ED actions, says TMC's Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday said despite the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) continuously targeting him, he won't be cowed down.

“I am not afraid of any agency. They tried to harass me by calling me to Delhi twice. I have never run away from any agency. And now I took two BJP MPs who have joined AITC,” Banerjee said while addressing a public rally in East Midnapore’s Haldia, the industrial hub in Bengal.

He elaborated how ED and CBI- the two central agencies- were after him. “I have faced ED interrogation for more than nine hours. There are people who have not been arrested despite murder charges.”


In a stern warning to contractual labour suppliers, Banerjee said “the labourers’ livelihood and future cannot be put at stake”.

“Either do contractual labour supply or do party work. You cannot do both. Contractual labour suppliers will not be given tickets,” Banerjee said.

“I am aware of your troubles and predicaments,” Banerjee told workers and labourers and said their rights and food security is the prime focus of the part.

Haldia is known to be a stronghold of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari, once a close aide of Banerjee, had defeated WB CM Mamata Banerjee from East Midnapore's Nandigram in the last assembly polls with a BJP ticket.

In a jibe at Adhikari], said there are certain leaders in BJP who have defected to the saffron camp to save themselves.

“From 2011, one person was part of our administration. But he had raised a wall between the party and administration. I am breaking the invisible wall today and renewing our relationship,” Banerjee said.