'You respect us, we respect you': Mamata Banerjee's 1st reaction to detention of TMC MP's in Delhi; drag us on road, will drag you back, says West Bengal CM
Times of India | 9 January 2026
KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Friday strongly condemned the detention of her party’s MPs during a protest outside the Union Home Ministry, calling the action an assault on democracy and a display of “arrogance in uniform”.
In a series of sharp remarks on social media, Banerjee accused the BJP-led Centre of suppressing dissent and humiliating elected representatives for exercising their democratic right to protest.
“Dragging elected representatives on the streets for protesting outside the Home Minister’s office is not law enforcement. This is a democracy, not the BJP’s private property,” she said.
Banerjee alleged a double standard in the treatment of political protests, saying BJP leaders were afforded privileges while opposition MPs were met with force and detention.
“When opposition MPs raise their voices, they are dragged, detained and humiliated. This exposes the BJP’s idea of democracy — obedience, not dissent,” she wrote.
Issuing a strong warning, the chief minister said respect in a democracy must be mutual. “You respect us, we respect you. You drag us on the road, and we will drag you back to the constitutional idea of tolerance, dissent and democratic morality,” she said, asserting that no government or office-holder had the authority to decide who deserved dignity.
Her remarks came hours after TMC MPs were detained by Delhi Police while protesting against the alleged misuse of central probe agencies.
The protest was linked to recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches connected to political consultancy I-PAC, which the TMC has described as politically motivated.
Banerjee has repeatedly accused the Centre of weaponising investigative agencies to intimidate opposition parties, an allegation the BJP has denied. The TMC has announced continued protests both in West Bengal and at the national level over the issue.