Deb alleges graft in Didi campaign
CPI(M) central committee member and housing minister Gautam Deb on Saturday fired yet another salvo at Mamata Banerjee, alleging that black money is being used to fund the Trinamool Congress campaign.
CPI(M) central committee member and housing minister Gautam Deb on Saturday fired yet another salvo at Mamata Banerjee, alleging that black money is being used to fund the Trinamool Congress campaign.
Deb said the slipper-wearing Banerjee spends around Rs 100 crore on the poll campaign.
“Mamata Banerjee is highlighted as an symbol of honesty. But I have proof of money being used in the campaign. About Rs 100 crore is being used by the Trinamool. There are two helicopters being used. Where is she getting the money? And we all see that she goes around wearing slippers,” Deb said at the Kolkata Press Club.
Hours later, Banerjee retorted in a rally in Nadia, saying the main culprit of the Rajarhat land scam has no moral right to speak.
Deb also targeted party president Mukul Roy for illegal cash transfer to candidates through false coupons and demanded his arrest. The minister added that a formal complaint would be filed with the Election Commission.
He alleged that along with Roy, Banerjee has paid Rs 15 lakh each to all her 264 candidates through illegal money. “They made coupons of Rs 100, Rs 200 and Rs 500 and employed party workers to falsely fill up the coupons and gave money to each candidate. Later, the receipts were burnt. In total, Rs 33,90,00,000 have been disbursed,” said Deb, showing pictures of the burnt receipts. He said only one candidate refused to take the money.
“Mukul Roy did this from March 25 and his son is absconding. Now, I hope the EC and prime minister are listening. Mukul Roy should be immediately arrested,” Deb said.
According to him, even Amit Mitra accepted the money, of which R7 lakh was put in his bank account a day after it was opened. How can you get Rs 7 lakh through coupons in a single day?” the minister said.
Taking a dig at Banerjee’s paintings, Deb said those who bought the canvasses; have to show their accounts.
Two hours later, leader of the Opposition in the assembly Partha Chatterjee held another news conference, where he questioned the the CPI(M) leader’s mental balance. Chatterjee said that the Trinamool would file a complaint about Deb’s baseless complaints. “He has lost his mind and is talking rubbish. It is the job of the EC to scrutinise our accounts.”
“Deb himself is the kingpin on land scam. How dare he talk about transparency? He should first show which businessman got land in Rajarhat,” he said.