Tensions between Assam and West Bengal leadership boiled over as CM Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned Mamata Banerjee’s handling of recent ED raids. He described her on-site protests as disruptive and unbecoming of a chief minister.
ED teams swooped on locations tied to Banerjee’s ex-minister Partha Chatterjee, unearthing massive undeclared wealth. Banerjee’s immediate appearance, mobilizing supporters, turned the operation into a spectacle, irking Sarma.
“Chief Ministers must uphold the rule of law, not obstruct it,” Sarma asserted. He detailed how Banerjee’s interference delays justice in scams involving billions, from education to sand mining.
Sarma’s critique draws from his governance playbook in Assam, where he claims swift action against corruption has boosted development. A former Congress leader turned BJP stalwart, he knows Bengal’s political pulse intimately.
Banerjee maintains the raids are BJP’s ploy to destabilize her administration, citing timed announcements before key events. TMC cadres echo her, viewing ED as a partisan tool.
This public spat highlights federal dynamics in India’s federal structure, where agency autonomy clashes with state rights. With ED filing chargesheets, outcomes could reshape Bengal’s power landscape. Sarma’s words serve as a rallying cry for accountability advocates nationwide.