The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a summons for Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee to appear before the agency in connection with the alleged school jobs scam. A TMC leader confirmed this development, stating that Banerjee is expected to present himself before the ED on November 9. Shashi Panja, the Women and Child Welfare Minister of West Bengal and a TMC spokesperson, asserted that Abhishek Banerjee is a victim of what she describes as “vendetta politics.” She further accused the BJP of engaging in such practices to “harass” leaders, especially in the lead-up to a crucial election scheduled for early next year.
On the other hand, the state BJP spokesperson, Shamik Lahiri, emphasized that their party does not endorse the idea of vendetta politics. He pointed out that the summoning of individuals by central agencies is conducted under the court’s supervision. If the TMC has any objections or concerns, they are free to approach the court to address them.
It’s worth noting that the ED had previously summoned Abhishek Banerjee to appear before them on October 9. However, he had skipped the October 3 summons, as he was participating in a TMC protest rally in New Delhi, demanding the immediate release of central funds owed to the state. During his earlier questioning by the ED in the teacher recruitment scam, which lasted for nearly nine hours on September 13, Banerjee had characterized it as an attempt to hinder his participation in the ‘INDIA’ meeting, highlighting the significant role played by the TMC in uniting opposition forces.
Abhishek Banerjee has also faced ED inquiries in the coal pilferage case, having been questioned twice: once at the agency’s office in the national capital in 2021 and again in Kolkata in 2022. These developments underscore the intensifying political and legal tensions surrounding key political figures in West Bengal.
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