TMC against NIA probe into Burdwan blast

NEW DELHI: Keen to keep the National Investigation Agency (NIA) out of the probe into the Burdwan blast, the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal on Monday said chief minister Mamata Banerjee has complete "trust" in the state administration which is working on the case and "will crack" it even as opposition CPM and BJP demanded that the investigation be handed over to the central agency.
Party spokesperson Derek O'Brian said here that the state administration is in touch with central agencies and there is "total cooperation" between them as the state is on a "high alert" in the festival season. A three-member committee comprising the chief secretary, the home secretary and the director general of police are monitoring the probe.
"The chief minister of West Bengal completely trusts the administration in the state to crack the Burdwan case," O'Brian told reporters here, while hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Trust is a word not found in the PM's dictionary. The PM does not trust his own party colleagues – L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj. Nor does he trust key members of his own administration. He thinks the CMs of all states also operate like him..." he added.
The ruling TMC sees the attempt to involve NIA in the blast investigations as the Centre's ploy to interfere in the state's matters. "Maligning the federal structure will not win the hearts of people. The recent bypolls taught BJP a lesson; soon the people of Maharashtra will teach them another lesson," O'Brian said.
Meanwhile, the CPM demanded that the blast should be investigated by NIA. In a statement, CPM politburo on Monday said, "There are sufficient grounds to believe that extremist elements are involved. The house is owned by a Trinamool Congress worker and it is alleged that a TMC office used to function from the garage in the house."
The Left party said the manner in which the Burdwan SP and other state police officials have dealt with the incident has raised doubts and questions. "It is essential, therefore, that the investigation be handed over to the NIA as this concerns the country's security. No effort should be spared to uncover the forces behind the bomb-making centre," CPM demanded.
Accusing ruling BJP at the Centre of politicising the issue, the TMC MP said, "It is unfortunate that BJP wishes to politicise the issue. We (TMC) do not need any lessons on patriotism from BJP," he said, adding, "BJP was deliberately stoking the fire of communal tension is every Indian state. In the past they have instigated communal riots to divide and rule India. This will never be accepted by the people."