KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate grilled Abhishek Banerjee for eight-and-a-half hours at its New Delhi office on Monday in connection with its ongoing probe into the alleged cattle-smuggling and coal scams, prompting the Trinamool national general secretary to call the ED and the CBI “the BJP’s biggest allies” in the April 12 bypolls in Bengal.
“Last September, when I was questioned in this office for nine hours, we had bypolls in Bengal, including Bhowanipore. Now they have summoned me again just before we have bypolls in Asansol (Lok Sabha) and Ballygunge (assembly). They cannot defeat us electorally, so they use these agencies to intimidate the opposition. But I am made of a different material. The BJP fights elections with the CBI and the ED as its allies,” Abhishek told reporters in Delhi after stepping out of the ED office after 7.30pm.
Abhishek added he would appear for questioning again, “if asked”, but said he would never be intimidated. “I will bow a million times before people. But I will never bow down to them (the Centre and the BJP). We have been taught to walk with our heads held high,” he added.
The Trinamool leader did not reveal what he was asked from 11am to 7.30pm. “I cannot make public what was asked and what I replied. That would be inappropriate. But I have nothing to hide. I will continue to cooperate with investigators even though I have to travel 1,500 kilometres to Delhi though the ED has offices in Kolkata,” he said, adding that the ED had sought for some documents “which would be sent”.
“But how can cattle pass through international borders without the BSF being in the know? It is cattle, not an insect. How can coal be smuggled out of Eastern Coalfields Limited without the CISF knowing? Who does the BSF and the CISF report to? The onus should lie with the (Union) home minister. How can they shrug off responsibility and blame the state?” he asked, adding: “I question the intent also because one never hears about ED, CBI or I-T raids in BJP-governed states. Why does it always have to be in opposition-governed states?” he asked.
