Just days after the Election Commission (EC) announced dates for the upcoming Assembly election, West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a major embarrassment.
A sting operation has surfaced which claims that several TMC leaders were acccepting bribes in return for favours to a fictitious company.
The Quint cannot independently verify the authenticity of this clip, but here’s what the sting operation by Narada News claims.
- As many as 11 Trinamool leaders and state ministers accepted bribes in return for favours to a fictitious company.
- A fictitious company called Impex Consultancy was formed by Narada News and approached several ministers and Trinamool leaders to seek favours.
- This was an attempt to unravel what is happening behind closed doors.
- The 52 hours of footage available with Narada News apparently shows that the TMC leadership is more than willing to side step the norms and circumvent laws to extend illegal help to those who offer money.
- TMC leaders accepted bribes ranging from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
- The list also includes a senior IPS officer, who Narada News says, has claimed to be a key fund collector for the TMC.
Questions That Remain Unanswered
- The timing of the video is suspect. Why is it being released only after the state went into election mode?
- Why was Trinamool Congress the only target of the sting operation? What about the other parties?
- If those shown in the video were involved in foul play before the previous election, what is its relevance now?
- Who has funded the operation? Where did the money required to pay the leaders, allegedly as bribe, come from?
TMC Dismisses Sting Op
The Trinamool Congress has rubbished the claims calling the videos “doctored” and part of a “smear campaign” against the party.
This is a political conspiracy. Party will take up the matter. We will take legal action.Mukul Roy, Vice President, TMC
However, the opposition has demanded that Mamata Banerjee immediately step-down as Chief Minister.
TMC leader Derek O’Brien said, “We have watched the video of the so-called ‘sting’ operation. There is no sting in it. We are completely dismissive about it.”
The timing of the dirty tricks video too clearly indicates the devious motive behind it. Why was the organisation that supposedly shot this video hiding the so-called ‘truth’ for more than two years?Derek O’Brien, Leader, TMC
He went on to say that he would ask his political opponents to fight them politically. “This is a smear campaign, we are all busy with elections now, so whoever has tried to concoct this smear campaign, may please go ahead and concoct your smear campaign or your doctored videos,” he said.
He also said, given recent circumstances, it is not hard to believe that technology can often be abused.
The BJP, however, took the opportunity to tear into its opponent.
The sting operation has completely exposed the TMC, proving their entire leadership is deep in corruption. We demand the immediate resignation of Mamata Banerjee. She has no right, no business to continue as the Chief Minister.SN Singh, National Secretary, BJP
He also demanded an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the matter.
Reading out the names of those caught in the sting, CPI(M) State Secretary and leader of opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said everything had been brought to the fore.
The sting operation carried out by Narada News has proved what we have been saying for all these years. Now there is nothing to hide. It’s a matter of shame that this government continues to be in power.
(With inputs from IANS)
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