TMC vows to counter BJP conspiracy politically

The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday said it would counter BJP's conspiracy to deploy CBI in Narada sting operation politically. Partha Chatterjee, Trinamool Congress general secretary on Tuesday said: "It is nothing but a conspiracy and we will fight the matter politically. Mamata Banerjee is a responsible person and is working for the common people and so any attempt to malign her will be dealt with suitably.

The legal battle will continue in the court of law." Mukul Roy, vice-president of Trinamool Congress said: "The very action of CBI shows it is vindictive. Trinamool Congress has come to power with the blessings of the people and no canards can dent the party's popularity." It may be recalled that shortly after CBI had filed FIR against 12 Trinamool Congress leaders and a senior IPS officer in Delhi, Trinamool Congress supremo had described it as a clear case of conspiracy and said it would be fought politically."There is nothing to worry.

FIR does not mean they are accused", she had told party leaders and workers on Monday. Meanwhile, CBI said that other than the 13 named in the FIR, there were 15 more under its scanner and the investigating agency was keeping tabs on them. In the FIR, CBI said: "The inquiry also revealed that several other unknown persons had also conspired with those named in the FIR in the alleged offences."

Meanwhile, Trinamool sources claimed that the FIR was not a good enough reason for the arrest of the concerned persons. CBI had filed FIRs against 20 leaders of different political leaders including L K Advani, V C Shukla, P Shiv Shankar, Sharad Yadav, Balaram Jakhar and Madan Lal Khurana in Jain hawala case in 1991. But not of those named in the FIRs were arrested. Also, the agency had lodged a FIR against its former director Amar Pratap Singh for allegedly favouring a controversial meat seller Moin Qureshi but did not arrest him. Meanwhile, the sources maintained that arrest was required as the agency needed to collect further information.

But here the main evidence is the video footage lying with the CBI. So, the question of tampering with the tapes does not arise. CBI can complete the inquiry and then file charge sheet against those named in the FIRs. It will be a real challenge for CBI to prove before the court whether those named in the FIRs taking money to extend favours to the "non-existent" firm as shown in the video clip could be tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Trinamool Congress is also exploring the option of challenging the FIR in the High Court. It is learnt that the party has got in touch with some legal luminaries to discuss the matter.