Opposition parties lend support to Mamata Banerjee as CBI faces off with Kolkata police

Following the high drama that ensued in Kolkata on Sunday evening as a team of CBI officials arrived at the residence of Kolkata CP Rajeev Kumar, in connection with the probe into a Ponzi scam case after Mamata Banerjee stepping in to staunchly defend her top cop, the opposition party leaders, part of the 'United Front' have expressed their views on this probe.

TMC supremo CM Mamata Banerjee addressed media outside the residence, accusing the BJP of harassing them and calling the CBI officers. 

She said:

'The Modi government and BJP are harassing us. You have seen how the Prime Minister was speaking yesterday. On 19th, when we were doing a rally, Modi government called CBI officers. Modi government told the CBI to do something here. This is more than an Emergency situation.'

'We arrested the chit-fund mastermind. We returned the money to the common people. We had formed an SIT to arrest criminals that time.'

'Before every election they do it. Mr Doval is implementing everything that Modi asks him to. He is giving instructions to CBI.'

'It's their political vendetta, but they can't fight me politically he knows.'

'Rajeev Kumar is the best one.'

'This is nothing but a coup. We need to finish Modi, else India will not survive.'

'I am with my forces. I am really upset today after this attack on my forces.'

'I will sit in Dharna to save Democracy and Constitution. I am going to metro channel to sit on Dharna. They are trying to break the federal structure. I will sit on dharna, and also hold meetings.'

Lending in his support to the West Bengal chief minister, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal politicising the issue blamed PM Modi of making a 'mockery' of democracy and federal structure. He extended his support and solidarity to Mamata Banerjee.

He tweeted, "Modi ji has made a complete mockery of democracy and federal structure. Few years back, Modi ji captured Anti- Corruption Branch of Del govt by sending paramilitary forces. Now, this. Modi-Shah duo is a threat to India and its democracy. We strongly condemn this action."

READ| HIGH DRAMA: CBI And Kolkata Police Face-off After Central Agency Officers Arrive At 'missing' Kolkata CP Rajeev Kumar's Residence

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav siding with chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused BJP of putting 'pressure' on the CBI in the last few months in a tweet.

The former Prime Minister of India H. D. Devegowda compared the situation in Kolkata to the 'emergency days' with the hashtag #SaveDemocracy 

The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, has expressed his support towards Mamata Banerjee and condemned BJP for using CBI as a ''political tool'

DMK leader M. K Stalin has extended his supported to Mamata Banerjee, calling BJP a 'facist government'

"We fully support Mamata Banerjee Ji's dharna against the BJP government. Today, the opposition and the public across the country are united to defeat the BJP in the next election," said SP leader Akhilesh Yadav
 

The former ally of BJP and chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, too, stood strong with the opposition saying how 'disheartening it is to see how institutions are being hijacked"

BJP MP, Prakash Javdekar speaking to Republic Bharat censured Mamata Banerjee and her supporters, saying that 'all corrupts have united'. He lashed out at the West Bengal chief minister for 'crushing the Constitution', citing the CBI incidents and for denying permission to chief minister Yogi Adityanath from conducting a rally and causing hurdles for Amit Shah to conduct rath yatra. 

He said, "This is not Centre versus state government. All the corrupt have united against the investigation of corruption, this is the truth. The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh earlier in the day was not allowed to land, does Mamata ji think as a different country? This is a situation of crushing the Constitution. They won't investigate against corruption, they will stop from landing, they will obstruct rath yatras, what is this?"

"The truth is that Mamata is scared of the strength and popularity of BJP hence she is making all these absurd statements. This has never happened that the police will detain CBI officers. This is not why the Consitution was made. This is an insult to democracy."   

READ| SUPER EXCLUSIVE: Yogi Adityanath Says 'undemocratic' Mamata Banerjee Has No Right To Govern, Makes Case For Why His Government Isn't Communal But Hers Is