Won’t bow to Delhi: Abhishek Banerjee clubs ED, EC to slam BJP
Times of India | 11 January 2026
BANKURA: Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday clubbed the EC and ED together as he stepped up the ante against BJP, accusing the party of misusing central agencies to target Bengal, rhetorically asking, "Does BJP think they will be able to stop us with ED and EC," and adding that Trinamool "won't bow down to Delhi, even if we die". His comments came after ED searches at I-PAC premises.
"Democratic institutions are being bent to partisan will, dissent is criminalised and even the living are coerced into fearful silence," Banerjee said on X. He added that political fights should be fought on grounds of jobs, housing, infrastructure and healthcare.
At a rally in Bankura's Saltora, Banerjee said, "Of the 133 hectares of state govt land here, there are 18 mines. If all the mines become operational, more than 25,000 people will get employment. The CMO has ordered a review of the entire process to make all mines operational. You will see that happen by March." Speaking at the once Maoist-hit zone, he said, "15 years ago, Bankura was in a dismal state. The Jungle Mahal area of the district was infested with Maoists. Places like Indpur and Chatna faced water scarcity. People had to travel to Bardhaman and Durgapur for education."
"The same was the case with healthcare. We have built multi super-specialty hospitals, colleges and proper roads in the region. Bankura, once a hotspot for Maoist activities, is now peaceful. This is one of CM Mamata Banerjee's biggest successes," he added.
He further said: "Had CM Mamata Banerjee not been there, the people of Bengal would still have had to live under the violent rule of the Left. It was CM Mamata Banerjee who took Bengal out of the dark Left rule of 34 years. Ask CPM what mettle Mamata Banerjee is made of. Even if we die, we will not bow down to Delhi."On Jan 9, commenting on photographs of his MP colleagues being dragged away by Delhi police, Banerjee had taken to X, writing, "Democracy is punished. Criminals are rewarded. Agencies are weaponised. Elections are manipulated. Jail the protestors, bail the rapists. This is BJP's version of New India. Even if the rest of the country is forced to surrender, Bengal will resist."
Referring to SIR, he said, "10 years ago, they made you stand in line in the name of demonetisation. Now, people who have lived here all their lives still have to stand in line to prove their citizenship. Do BJP netas like Subhash Sarkar and Saumitra Khan have their own birth certificates?" "The people of Bengal are being harassed in the name of SIR. A BLO died in Ranibandh a week ago. Today, another person named Kanchan Mondal died in Birbhum. Almost 70 people have died in the past two months. The Bangla-opposing BJP has not only financially strangled Bengalis, but has also caused the deaths of many," he added.