'This is something that the Zamindars used to do in ancient times' says Asit Majumder on ED's raid in I-PAC offices

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted simultaneous raids at the Salt Lake Sector V office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and at the Loudon Street residence of its head, Pratik Jain, on Thursday morning, which led to sharp political reactions across West Bengal.

Reportedly, sources in the agency said a special ED team had arrived from Delhi and conducted the searches. The action is related to an old coal smuggling case registered in the national capital.

‘This is something that the Zamindars used to do in ancient times’

Speaking to News Ei Samay, Asit Majumder, MLA of Chunchura Vidhan Sabha Constituency in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, mentioned, “In a democratic country, it is not right for any agency to raid a private company; it is not the right practice. It is no less than a crime. It is something which we call the ‘Zamindari system’. This is something that the Zamindars used to do in ancient times. Are the agencies like ED and CBI Zamindars of the modern times? They are doing whatever they want; they are entering places where they are not supposed to go without any prior notice.

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“They are trying to use the vested powers in the wrong way, to fulfil wrong intentions. They do not follow the constitution, nor do they care about India being a democracy. They have even weaponised the Election Commission for their own political benefits. Our leaders, Mamta Bannerjee and Abhishek Bannerjee, are fighting against the atrocities caused by the BJP, and we shall follow what our leader says. This is extremely undemocratic – how the BJP are weaponising each piece of machinery they have in power, he added.

Why always other parties and not the BJP?

When asked about why the ED and the CBI do not enforce such actions on the BJP even if they were involved in several fraudulent cases, he answered, “The ED and CBI are the agents of the BJP, who are sitting in power at the centre. They belong in the BJP's pockets. They will always overlook the misdeeds of the BJP. If corruption begins from the leaders, then who will be responsible for ending it?”

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Mamata Banerjee held a press conference, during which she alleged that the ED attempted to seize TMC files, laptops, and documents related to SIR work. She said, “Showing courtesy is not my weakness.” Mamata has called on TMC workers and supporters to protest the ED’s actions, announcing that they will take to the streets block by block from 4 pm on Thursday.