Congress President Rahul Gandhi and several other opposition leaders on Sunday extended their full support to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her sit-in against the Centre over CBI's move in the state, saying that the happenings in West Bengal were part of the unrelenting attack on India's institutions by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
Rahul Gandhi, who spoke to Mamata Banerjee, said in a tweet that the "entire opposition will stand together and defeat these fascist forces." South Indian leaders, including JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and DMK leader MK Stalin, too, expressed their solidarity with Mamata Banerjee.
DMK President MK Stalin he would stand with Mamata Banerjee in her fight to protect the federal structure of this country and to save democracy. "The independence of every institution has been compromised under this fascist BJP Government."
The independence of every institution has been compromised under this fascist BJP Government.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 3, 2019
I stand with @MamataOfficial Didi in her fight to protect the federal structure of this country and to save democracy.#SaveDemocracy
Andhra Pradesh CM too came rushing to support Mamata and said that the Modi led BJP is losing all hope after opposition parties started uniting and started to fight together to save democracy.
"After opposition parties started uniting and started to fight together to save democracy, the Modi led BJP is losing all hope. The misuse of institutions by the union government to victimize political opponents in States is reaching dangerous proportions," said in a tweet.
After opposition parties started uniting and started to fight together to save democracy, the Modi led BJP is losing all hope. The misuse of institutions by the union government to victimize political opponents in States is reaching dangerous proportions.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) February 3, 2019
We strongly condemn the incidents happening in Kolkata, a glaring example of how Modi-Shah duo are destroying the institutions. Attacking political opponents in different States, few days before the Parliament elections commence, will have disastrous consequences in the country.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) February 3, 2019
This is shocking and we strongly condemn this. We stand by Chief Minister of West Bengal to preserve and protect constitution and spirit of federalism in the country. #SaveDemocracy
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) February 3, 2019
Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda also condemned Prime Minister Modi's attack on Mamata and likened it to the dark days of the emergency. "I am shocked learning about the CBI rushing to arrest the Police Commissioner and subsequent developments in West Bengal. The country has faced similar kind of unconstitutional methods during the Emergency," Deve Gowda said.
I am shocked learning about the CBI rushing to arrest the Police Commissioner and subsequent developments in West Bengal. The country has faced similar kind of unconstitutional methods during the Emergency.
— H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) February 3, 2019
Situation in WB is similar to that of the emergency days.#SaveDemocracy
However, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury attacked both Banerjee and the BJP accusing both of creating "drama".
"I spoke with Mamata Di tonight and told her we stand shoulder to shoulder with her. The happenings in Bengal are a part of the unrelenting attack on India's institutions by Modi and the BJP. The entire opposition will stand together and defeat these fascist forces," he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, also expressed their solidarity with the West Bengal CM in tweets.
Arvind Kejriwal called Modi-Shah duo's action is against democracy. "Spoke to Mamta didi and expressed solidarity. Modi-Shah duo's action is completely bizarre and anti-democracy," the Delhi CM said.
Tejashwi Yadav, who also spoke to Mamata Banerjee, extended RJD's support. "BJP has not only venomous and nefarious agenda against opposition leaders but Indian Administrative Service and Police Officers. Might visit Kolkata tomorrow," he said.
"The misuse of institutions by the union government to victimise political opponents in States is reaching dangerous proportions. We strongly condemn the incidents happening in Kolkata, a glaring example of how Modi-Shah duo are destroying the institutions. Attacking political opponents in different States, few days before the Parliament elections commence, will have disastrous consequences in the country," he added.
Omar Abdullah said he spoke to Banerjee to convey the support of National Conference to her protest.
"The use of the CBI as a political tool has crossed all limits as has the Modi government's misuse of institutions. A former CM having such little regard for India's federalism is shocking," he said.
Yechury said that corruption cases against TMC government in chit fund scam have been public for years but the Modi government chose to stay quiet as the top mastermind of the scam joined BJP.
"It does a drama to act now, after 5 years, and TMC leadership responds by staging a drama to protect its corrupt. This drama in Kolkata by BJP and TMC is not a fight for any principle but only to save their corrupt and hide their corruption. CPI(M) has fought both these undemocratic, corrupt, communal and dictatorial regimes in the Centre and the state and will continue to do so," he said.
In an unprecedented confrontation with the Modi government, Banerjee began a sit-in on Sunday in Kolkata accusing the Centre of trying to run a parallel administration in states, saying there is a "constitutional break-down" after an ugly face-off between the CBI and the state police.
The showdown started after CBI officers showed up near the residence of Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who has been under the scanner in connection with the CBI probe into the ponzi scheme scam case.
The events are expected to cast a shadow on the budget session at the Parliament on Monday with the opposition expected to vociferously raise the issue.
(With inputs from IANS)