This Article is From Apr 09, 2015

'Want Details? Go to Income Tax Department,' Says Mamata Banerjee on CBI Notice Seeking Party Accounts

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee protesting against the Centre's Land Bill in Kolkata. (Photo: Press Trust of India)

Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today took to the streets of Kolkata against the land bill. But in her speech she trained her guns on the BJP and the CBI.

On Monday, the Trinamool Congress received a CBI notice asking for details about the party's income and expenditure from 2010 up to 2014.

But today Ms Banerjee, appeared to suggest that the agency and the BJP should not wait with a baited breath for a response from them.

"They have a sent letter to me asking for TMC accounts?" the chief minister thundered. "Arrey bhai, TMC is a poor party. TMC will give accounts? After fighting so much? You are the grandfather of thieves and u will demand answers from us? What is ur jurisdiction?" said a charged up Ms Banerjee.

"A party gives audited accounts to Election Commission. That is the system, we give IT returns. You take details if you want from the IT. Who is stopping you? Tomorrow when u r not in power, people will send you notice. You will see," lashed out Ms Banerjee.

Subrata Bakshi, the newly appointed general secretary of the party, could not offer a clarification on whether Ms Banerjee was effectively saying that no reply will be sent to the CBI.

But no clarification was required for Ms Banerjee who took pots shots at Prime Minister Modi, without directly naming him. "He starts talking whenever he sees the cameras...Mitron..." she said, pausing for effect.

She also mocked at "Mann Ki Baat", the radio programme hosted by Mr Modi. She said nobody knows whose mind is the Prime Minister speaking.

"All the time they are giving lectures. Maan ki Baat patahi nahi hain kiska baat. Doodarshan ab ban gaya BJP darshan. Dimag hi nahi hain to dimag chalega kaise," she said while breaking into Hindi during TMC's protest rally which was otherwise addressed in Bengali.

The opposition, however, is not impressed. State Congress President Adhir Chowdhury said, "Trinamool has a 'blow hot blow cold" policy towards the BJP, it is as per their convenience."

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