TMC Leaders Detained After Dharna Outside EC Office

Trinamool Congress leaders were detained on Monday following a 24-hour dharna outside the Election Commission office in the national capital, where they demanded the removal of the current chiefs of central agencies – Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Income Tax Department.

The protest, led by a 10-member delegation of the TMC including Derek O’Brien, Mohammed Nadimul Haque, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale, Sagarika Ghose, MLA Vivek Gupta, former MPs Arpita Ghosh, Santanu Sen, Abir Ranjan Biswas, and party’s students’ wing West Bengal vice president Sudip Raha, ensued after they met with a full bench of the poll body to press their demand.

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TMC alleges the misuse of NIA by BJP to intimidate its party workers ahead of the general election, stating, “We shall not tolerate such unconstitutional attempts to harm the sanctity of our democracy and have pledged to stand together to take all necessary steps to put an end to such activities,” as mentioned on their social media platform.

TMC MP Dola Sen, addressing the media, condemned the alleged misuse of central agencies against them, emphasizing the need for the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field for all political parties.

This protest comes amidst TMC’s ongoing allegations that central probe agencies are targeting opposition parties at the behest of the BJP-led Centre. Recently, TMC accused an “unholy alliance” between the BJP and NIA, following an attack on a team of NIA by a mob in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district. The incident occurred after the NIA arrested two accused individuals in a 2022 blast case at a TMC leader’s house.

In response, the NIA has issued a statement refuting all allegations of ‘mala fide’ in its actions, clarifying that the attack was “unprovoked” and an attempt to obstruct the agency from carrying out its lawful duties.