Opposition Parties Rally Behind Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata Police-CBI Standoff

After an all-out war broke out between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee government on Sunday over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police commissioner in connection with chit fund scams, support for Banerjee from Opposition leaders poured in even as the CBI moved the Supreme Court accusing Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar of destroying evidence related to the case and him of indulging in contempt of court.

Banerjee, who sat on a dharna around 8.30 pm Sunday to protest against "the attack on constitutional norms", skipped meals and remained awake the entire night on a makeshift dais at Metro Channel in the heart of the city along with some ministers and party members.

The Trinamool Congress chief had undertaken a 25-day fast at the same spot in December 2006 to protest the land acquisition in Singur by the erstwhile Left Front government to set up a car factory. The Singur movement catapulted her to power in 2011.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who had spoken to Banerjee on Sunday night, said in a tweet that the "entire opposition will stand together and defeat these fascist forces."

"I spoke with Mamata Di tonight and told her we stand shoulder to shoulder with her. The happenings in Bengal are a part of the unrelenting attack on India's institutions by Modi and the BJP. The entire opposition will stand together and defeat these fascist forces," he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called it Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah's action is against democracy.

"Spoke to Mamta didi and expressed solidarity. Modi-Shah duo's action is completely bizarre and anti-democracy," Kejriwal said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the Modi government of trying to scare and intimidate the opposition by using government agencies like the CBI.

"Besides the ongoing developments in West Bengal, similar things are heard from other states as well," the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said in reference to the confrontation in Kolkata between the CBI and Kolkata Police.

"The BJP government is misusing the premier investigative agency to further its political ends just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections," the 45-year-old said.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who also spoke to Banerjee, extended RJD's support, "BJP has not only venomous and nefarious agenda against opposition leaders but Indian Administrative Service and Police Officers. Might visit Kolkata tomorrow," he said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he spoke to Banerjee to convey the support of National Conference to her protest.

"The use of the CBI as a political tool has crossed all limits as has the Modi government's misuse of institutions. A former CM having such little regard for India's federalism is shocking," he said.

DMK leader MK Stalin said he stood with Banerjee in her fight to protect the federal structure of this country and to save democracy. "The independence of every institution has been compromised under this fascist BJP Government."

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy also tweeted in Banerjee's support describing the incident as an "attack on state's federal rights. "What happened in West Bengal is an attack on a state’s federal rights guaranteed by our constitution. We stand with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee heads the TMC, a key member of the 'Mahagathbandhan', the grand alliance, in which the JD(S) is also an active partner.

Former Prime Minister and JD(S) president HD Deve Gowda drew comparisons with emergency days and said he was "shocked" to learn about the incident.

"I am shocked to learn about the CBI rushing to arrest the Police Commissioner and subsequent developments in West Bengal. The country has faced similar kind of unconstitutional methods during the Emergency. Situation in WB is similar to that of the Emergency days. #SaveDemocracy," the JD(S) national president tweeted.

TDP chief supremo and Andhra Pradesh Cheif Minister Chandrababu Naidu said, "Cases against those who surrender to the BJP are being lifted. They are digging out old cases against those who oppose the BJP. The recent Kolkata rally was successful, hence the vengeance against Mamata Banerjee."

Accusing the Narendra Modi government of conspiring to usurp the powers of the state, he said, "They are completely damaging the Centre-state relations."

"The BJP is deriving pleasure by foisting cases against opposition leaders. They are destroying the constitutional institutions," Naidu alleged, adding the issue would be discussed during his visit to New Delhi and an action plan in this regard would be chalked out.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) vice-president Jayant Chaudhary also extended her support to the Banerjee and tweeted: "Distressed by the news out of Bengal. A complete breakdown of trust in institutions under an authoritarian Modi Govt obsessed with regaining power at all costs. Mamata Ji is resisting & has the support of all those who understand the agenda behind these moves".

However, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, a rival of Banerjee in West Bengal, said that corruption cases against TMC government in chit fund scam have been public for years but Modi government chose to stay quiet as the top mastermind of the scam joined BJP.

"It does a drama to act now, after 5 years, and TMC leadership responds by staging a drama to protect its corrupt. This drama in Kolkata by BJP and TMC is not a fight for any principle but only to save their corrupt and hide their corruption. CPI(M) has fought both these undemocratic, corrupt, communal and dictatorial regimes in the Centre and the state and will continue to do so," he said.