BJP Leader Calls for Mamata’s Arrest, TMC Terror Label After CBI Sandeshkhali Searches

West Bengal opposition leader and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari slammed the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led West Bengal government on Friday after several arms and ammunition, including foreign-made revolvers, were discovered at the home of suspended party leader Sheikh Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali, demanding that the ruling party be declared a ‘terrorist outfit’. The Bengal Assembly leader of the opposition went on to say that such weapons and explosives are being utilized in anti-national actions and that the party supremo has lost the moral authority to remain as the state’s chief minister after supporting terrorists such as Sheikh.

“All the weapons discovered in Sandeshkhali are foreign. Explosives like RDX are employed in horrendous anti-national acts. International terrorists employ all of these weapons. I urge that the Trinamool Congress be declared a terrorist group. This is a utopian state. People who saw the teaser for the tragedy in Khadikul, Egra, saw the movie today when RDX and lethal weapons were recovered in Sandeshkhali. Mamata Banerjee accepts full responsibility for this occurrence. “I demand that Mamata Banerjee be arrested and that the Trinamool Congress be declared a terrorist organization,” Adhikari said.

What the CBI found

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches on Friday at two properties owned by Sheikh Shahjahan, the primary accused in the Sandeshkhali incident, in connection with a January attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by a crowd reportedly led by the now-suspended leader. “The CBI seized three foreign-made revolvers, one foreign-made pistol, one Indian revolver, one Colt official-issue police revolver, one country-made pistol, 120 nine-mm bullets, and 50 cartridges.45 caliber, 50 cartridges of.380 caliber, and eight cartridges of.32 caliber,” according to a press release issued by the agency

Also Read: TMC Alleges BJP Conspiracy with CBI and NSG in Sandeshkhali Raid, Moves EC

TMC’s reaction

However, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh questioned the CBI finding. Before the CBI proclaimed possession, he alleged that the opposition was conspiring to plant ammunition on the grounds. “We haven’t seen any guns yet. The CBI has not provided any official briefings. Our competitors or political parties have likely hidden weapons,” he stated, hours before the formal CBI announcement. “There are attempts from Delhi to sway votes and keep the Sandeshkhali pot boiling. Dramas are currently being staged.” The police should be alert,” he wrote in a post on X, mocking the ruling BJP without mentioning it.

TMC Alleges BJP Conspiracy with CBI and NSG in Sandeshkhali Raid, Moves EC

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) filed a complaint with the Election Commission on Saturday against the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) raid at two locations linked to an alleged associate of Sandeshkhali accused Shajahan Sheikh, claiming that the agency’s action was intended to tarnish the party’s image ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. In response to the finding of weapons, the party accused the BJP of colliding with the CBI and NSG.

“The electorate in West Bengal was set to vote in three parliamentary constituencies: Darjeeling, Raiganj, and Balurghat. While elections were taking place, the CBI carried out an unethical raid at a vacant spot in Sandeshkhali. According to media sources, the CBI sent more personnel, including the National Security Guard’s explosives squad. It has also been stated that guns and ammunition were discovered at a residence during similar operations,” according to the letter.

The TMC stated that the CBI did not notify the state administration or the police before carrying out the operation. According to the report, the CBI sent along a bomb squad for the operation despite the fact that the state police possessed a fully working bomb disposal unit. The party claimed that the CBI had informed the media about the raid in advance.

“It is even more remarkable to see that media representatives were there during the raid before the state administration arrived. At this point, it was already widely known that firearms had been found during the assault. There is no way to know for definite if these firearms were seized during the search and seizure operation or were placed covertly by the CBI/NSG,” the party claimed. The TMC accused the CBI of aiming to incite “nationwide odium and contempt” against it during the polls. It said that the CBI had “notoriously instrumentalized the media” to create the rumor that the individual was a TMC supporter.

“Today’s actions are another testament to the fact that the BJP has weaponized the central investigating agencies, including the CBI, to, inter alia, carry out a smear campaign against AITC, which would help sway the mindset of the voters in its favor,” the statement stated. The Trinamool Congress said there was a BJP plot behind the raid. It also accused the CBI and the NSG of planting the guns seized during the operation. “It is reiterated that in the absence of any representative of the State Government, the purported recovery of arms and ammunition is possibly a ploy employed by the BJP in conspiracy with the CBI and the NSG to plant such weapons at the site,” the statement said.

Also Read: Kejriwal put his own interests first by not quitting, says Delhi High Court

What had the CBI recovered from the Sandeshkhali raid?

In a statement, the CBI claimed it had discovered three foreign-made revolvers, one foreign-made pistol, one Indian revolver, one Colt official-issue police revolver, one country-made handgun, 120 nine-millimeter bullets, 50 cartridges of.45 caliber, 50 cartridges of.380 caliber, and eight cartridges of.32 caliber. It claimed to have discovered damning documents relating to Sheikh Shahjahan, the suspended TMC leader accused of sexual assault and land grabs.

Kejriwal put his own interests first by not quitting, says Delhi High Court

On Friday, the Delhi High Court criticized Arvind Kejriwal’s administration for failing to supply books to children attending MCD public schools. The court concluded that Kejriwal put personal interests over national objectives by refusing to resign as Chief Minister while in jail.

These observations were delivered by a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora while hearing a PIL on the deteriorating conditions of MCD schools as a result of the local body’s logjam.

According to the court, the Delhi government was “interested in the appropriation of power”. It further claimed that while it has “politely” stressed that national interests are “supreme,” the current case has revealed what was “wrong,” and that it would issue an order in the subject on Monday.

“I’m sorry to hear that you’ve prioritized your interests over the interests of the pupils, the children who are hstudying. We will conclude that you prioritize your political interests over others.It is quite unfortunate that you did this. It is wrong, and that is what has been highlighted in this case,” it stated.

“I’m sorry to hear that you’ve prioritized your own interests over those of the pupils, the children who are studying. We conclude that you prioritize your political interests over others. It is quite unfortunate that you have done this. It is wrong, and that is what has been highlighted in this case,” it stated.

“I am not sure how much authority you want. The problem is that you are attempting to take authority, which is why you are not receiving it,” the court stated.

The Delhi government counsel stated that he was not representing the chief minister and assured te court that the issue of non-supply of educational materials would be resolved if the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner made a formal request for financial approvals despite the absence of the civic body’s standing committee.

ACJ Manmohan also criticized Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, claiming that he had turned a blind eye to the situation of students and was crying crocodile tears.

The court noted that the Delhi government counsel was attending on instructions from Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and added, “We will record your statement that I am unable to do anything because the chief minister is in custody.” If that is his personal choice, good luck to him.”

“It is your decision whether the chief minister would continue to serve while in jail. We will have to say something. This is your administration’s decision. You are asking us to follow that path, and we will do it with zeal,” Justice Manmohan stated.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by NGO Social Jurist, represented by counsel Ashok Agarwal, which highlighted the non-supply of educational materials and other statutory advantages to children in MCD schools even after the start of the current academic session.

Also Read: ‘Good Day For Democracy’: PM Modi Says SC Order A ‘Tight Slap’ On Those Attempting To Malign EVMs

“As a court, we are not responsible for distributing books or clothing. We are doing this because someone is failing in their job. Your client is only interested in power. I’m not sure how much power you want. “The problem is that you are attempting to appropriate power, which is why you are not receiving it,” it continued.

The court also cautioned the government not to underestimate it. “Don’t underestimate our guts.” You underestimate our power… “You are using children as a trading point, but they are not a trading commodity for us,” it stated.

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