UPA, CPM to blame for Saradha chit fund scam: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sought to shift the blame for the Saradha chit fund scam on the Centre and the previous government in the state, arguing they were responsible for the mushrooming of chit funds in West Bengal.

"Neither the Congress-led UPA government nor the opposition CPI (M) can shirk their responsibilities for the growth of unscrupulous chit funds in our state," Banerjee said while addressing a gathering of the ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday.

Banerjee also questioned the role of the stock market regulator and the central bank, saying, "Such organisations are controlled by the Sebi and RBI and I want to ask a simple question: why did the Sebi and the RBI not take any action against such chit funds in our state?"

The chief minister said the CPI (M) did not initiate any measure to promulgate an act to control the unscrupulous chit funds even though it ruled the state for 34 years.

Breaking her silence over the CPI (M)'s allegation regarding her nephew Abhishek's alleged involvement with a company which is involved in mobilising public money in an unauthorised manner, she said, "I have no family of my own. I used to live with my mother and two little girls who used to look after her. My mother is no more and I don't want anyone to associate my name with anybody related to me."

Banerjee also clarified that her party had paid for the chartered flight that she took while returning to Kolkata from Delhi after attending the Planning Commission meeting last month.