‘Mafia-Goon Govt Is Running Bengal’: Mahesh Jethmalani Blasts Mamata Banerjee

New Delhi: Hitting out at the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over Kolkata Police using brute force to disperse protestors outside Nabanna, former Rajya Sabha MP and Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani said that city police is colluding with the ‘fascist’ Trinamool government adding that people were holding a silent march yet “disproportionate” use of force was done upon them. 

In an exclusive interview with Republic, Mahesh Jethmalani said, “I don't think there was anything in the crowd behaviour that justified tear gas, dragging people on the roads, water cannons. This is a disproportionate use of force. It was a peaceful protest. Police have incited the crowd. They even assaulted women and old age people. It was a picnic for the police.” 

Bengal Being Run By Mafia Goon Govt

On Sanjoy Roy, prime accused in the Kolkata Doctor-Rape murder case using a bike registered in the name of Kolkata's Commissioner of Police, Jethmalani said, ”It’s a racket. It’s between the political class and the police. It is seamless; they are one and the same. They have become Mamata’s mouthpiece. See, there is an education scam being investigated outside Bengal. This state has become dysfunctional and is ruled by a mafia goon government.” 

Jethmalani further stated that the West Bengal Chief Minister in the past has also got away with exercising such brutality on the common masses. 

‘This is not the only incident, Mamata has always got away repeatedly. Post-poll violence was a reign of terror and CBI is investigating in which some chargesheets have been filed as well. Remember what happened in Sandeshkhali, The Mamata government protected Shahjahan Sheikh. He was allowed to abscond for 55 days. He attacked the ED and there was an attempted murder case against him. Police are part of the fascist state govt,” he said.   

TMC Women MPs Are ‘Laapata Ladies’

Former Rajya Sabha MP said that those women lawmakers of TMC who are always critical of other issues are choosing to remain silent on what is unfolding in Bengal. 

“Not one of the Mahila MP brigade said that Shahjahan Sheikh needs to be arrested. West Bengal is becoming an insulated state of violence within India. Don’t expect MPs to be critical of their own government. I suppose Laapata Ladies best sums them up,” he said.  

Kolkata Police Investigating Techniques Are ‘Strange’

Questioning the techniques used by Kolkata police in the Abhaya case, Jethmalani said, ”There is no reason given for the gross delay in filing of the FIR. A video that has come out as genuine does show that there has been an unnecessarily large crowd near the crime scene. There have been curtains put up on the crime scene. They divided the crime scene into two areas. The crime scene is the surrounding area as well. Hair, nails, fingerprints all these are part of the evidence.”

“The investigation technique of Kolkata police seems to be strange, their case diary record is a little confusing, how do you know not more than one person was there? as no fingerprinting has been done,” he added.  

Why Does Every Important Case Go Outside West Bengal? 

Senior Advocate further pointed out that one must look into why the investigation related to major scams, or incidents are being probed by Central agencies. 

“What happened after Bengal polls, there were mobs doing victory parades, there was death and destruction, there was gangrape of minors. Why is every case of Bengal being transferred to CBI? And is everybody outside Bengal stupid and corrupt?” Jethmalani asked.  

People Are Revolting More And More

“There has been a lot of anger in the people of West Bengal. People are revolting more and more about what is happening in the state of Bengal. The kind of horror that this girl has been subjected to has happened in the past. Sandeshkhali victims were also the victims of extreme gender violence,” he said. 

Earlier today, security personnel lobbed tear gas shells, used water cannons, and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse protestors on the Howrah Bridge marching towards the West Bengal State Secretariat Nabanna, amidst the row over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case.

Protestors gathered at the Howrah Bridge, climbing atop police barricades, and clashed with police personnel during the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest march. They were seen breaking and dragging away the barricades that were erected at the Santragachi area route to the Secretariat.