Saradha scam: Opposition demands interrogation of Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: The Opposition today came down heavily on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with the BJP demanding her resignation over the arrest of state transport minister Madan Mitra in connection with the multi-crore Saradha chitfund scam.

BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said the investigation was slowly leading to Banerjee's doorstep and Madan Mitra's arrest showed the TMC leadership was neck deep in the multi-crore scam.

"It is time for Mamata Banerjee to resign taking moral responsibility. Mitra's arrest shows that the TMC leadership is neck deep in the Saradha scam and the dots are leading to Mamata Banerjee's doorstep," Singh told PTI.

"While addressing a rally last year Mamata Banerjee had said is Kunal a thief, is Madan a thief, is Srinjoy a thief, is Mukul a thief, am I a thief? Now Kunal, Srinjoy and Madan are behind bars. It is Bhag Madan Bhag in 2014. It will be Bhag Mukul Bhag in 2015 and Bhag Mamata Bhag in 2016," Singh told a news channel later.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra demanded immediate interrogation of the Chief Minister including others in the Saradha scam.

"Mamata Banerjee should be quizzed immediately in the Saradha scam," Mishra, a CPI(M) Politburo member, said.

CPI(M) MP Mohammed Salim said, "Madan Mitra is not only a minister, but also a close aide of Mamata Banerjee. He was also a poster boy of the TMC in organising goons and youths for rallies."

"Now the people of Bengal are getting impatient. They want more culprits to be arrested in the Saradha scam. Saradha owner and TMC top leadership were operating as a joint venture in Bengal," he claimed.

With several sports clubs deciding to hit the streets against the arrest of Madan Mitra, BJP state president Rahul Sinha said the CBI should also look into the accounts of these clubs.

"It is well known that Saradha money was given to various clubs and when these clubs are hitting the streets against this latest arrest, then there is something wrong. CBI should look into their accounts too," he said.

Congress leader Abdul Mannan also demanded an explanation from Mamata Banerjee for Mitra's arrest and resign.