Mamata ends dharna after SC order on CP

Kolkata: Welcoming the 'favourable' Supreme Court order that directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday not to take any coercive measures against Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it a 'moral victory' of Bengal and India against the vindictive attitude of the Centre.

The Supreme Court in its order said: "We make it clear that no coercive steps including the arrest shall be taken against the Commissioner of Police. To avoid all unnecessary controversy, we direct the Commissioner of Police to appear before the investigating agency in Shillong, Meghalaya on such date(s) as may be fixed."

Banerjee, who had organised a Satyagraha titled "Save the Indian Constitution" shortly after the CBI officials visited Kumar's residence on Sunday, came to an end on Tuesday evening following a meeting with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav who had come to express solidarity with Banerjee.

"This dharna was not a political agitation. It was an agitation to save India and India's democracy. Let us end it today (Tuesday) because the Supreme Court gave a very positive verdict. It was a verdict of the people, by the people, for the people. I have held meetings with Naiduji and Tejashwi, and as we hail the Supreme Court order, we have decided to end the dharna," she said adding: "We will hold a meeting in Delhi on February 13 and 14 and I will go to Delhi to join the programme."

Launching a scathing attack on Modi, she said: "The CBI instead of working for him should try to find out the Nobel prize which was stolen from Visva Bharati. We wanted them to hand over the investigation to us which they did not, and now, they are unable to trace the medal."

Banerjee said Rajeev Kumar had written five letters to the CBI expressing his desire to meet them but at a neutral place. "It is unfortunate that the CBI did not take cognizance of the letters. I decided to protest because the way CBI officials raided his house is uncalled for. How can you go to the house of the Commissioner of Police to interrogate without any document," she questioned.

The Chief Minister further added: "In the past few years the CBI had arrested leaders like Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Tapas Pal, Shrikant Mohta and even the editor of a Bengali daily and all have been taken to Odisha. They have been harassed and then released after six months."

Chandrababu Naidu said the democracy in the country is not safe in the hands of Narendra Modi. "They say everyone in this country is corrupt except Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Institutions like the CBI, ED, Income Tax have become tools in the hands of the Prime Minister and Shah who use them to scare the Opposition leaders. We are protesting against that."

Naidu said the meeting called by Banerjee on January 19 was "the greatest historical event in recent times. 22 leaders attended it. Now, today all the parties have supported Banerjee because the IAS and IPS officers in India are under severe threat and we want to restore democracy. Banerjee has become a national leader for her spirit and initiative to strengthen the Federal Front."

Tejashwi Yadav said it had become a custom by the BJP leaders to call every leader of the Opposition corrupt. They let loose the CBI and other agencies against those who raise their voice. However, this time we are all united and should work together to oust Modi.

During the day, All India Trinamool Youth Congress president Abhishek Banerjee visited the 'dharna manch'.

The 'Satyagraha' concluded with the slogan "Oust Modi and Save the Country."

In a related development, the Centre on Tuesday asked the West Bengal government to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for flouting service rules.