TMC dismisses reports of I-PAC halting WB ops, Mamata says party to give jobs to staffers if needed
Kolkata/Tarakeswar (WB) (PTI): Dismissing reports that political consultancy firm I-PAC had suspended its operations in West Bengal as "completely baseless", the TMC on Sunday alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched by the BJP-led Centre to cripple the party's campaign machinery through intimidation.
The sharp rebuttal from the ruling party came hours after reports surfaced that the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which has been closely associated with the TMC's election campaigns since 2021, had allegedly asked its employees in West Bengal to stop work immediately and proceed on a 20-day leave.
A newspaper report claimed an email purportedly sent by the organisation to its employees late on Saturday night cited "legal obligations" and said work in West Bengal would remain suspended until May 11, after which the next course of action would be communicated.
While the I-PAC is yet to issue any statement on the matter, the TMC, in an official comminique issued on Sunday afternoon, said the I-PAC had not withdrawn from the party's campaign.
"We have come across a media report claiming that I-PAC has halted its operations in West Bengal for the next 20 days. This claim is completely baseless and appears to be a deliberate attempt to create confusion on the ground," the party said.
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The statement asserted that the I-PAC team in West Bengal "remains fully engaged" with the TMC and that campaign operations across the state were continuing according to plan.
"These narratives are a deliberate attempt to distract from the clear mood on the ground. The people of West Bengal are fully capable of seeing through these attempts and will respond democratically," it added.
In a politically loaded message aimed at the BJP, the TMC said West Bengal would not be "swayed by misinformation or intimidation" and that the electorate would give its answer during polling on April 23 and 29.
The issue acquired a sharper political edge later in the day when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee broke her silence and accused the BJP and central agencies of trying to frighten not just the TMC, but also those working for the party.
Addressing an election rally in Tarakeswar, Banerjee, without taking the consultancy firm's name, declared that if I-PAC employees were forced out of their jobs because of the ongoing pressure, her party would absorb them.
"They raid us through the ED every day. Suddenly, during elections, they remembered all this? They are telling those who work for our party to leave West Bengal. They have fifty organisations. We have only one," Banerjee said.
In a combative mood, she said, "If they are threatened, they will join us. We will give them jobs. I will not allow even one boy to lose his job. I spoke to Abhishek this morning before coming here."
Without naming the BJP directly, the chief minister alleged that a "deep conspiracy" was underway to disrupt the TMC's election preparations at a crucial juncture.
"We will not accept this conspiracy. How much more will you torture us? How many more votes will you try to snatch? After this, you will bring NRC," she said, invoking one of the Opposition's most potent political issues in West Bengal.
The TMC's aggressive pushback comes against the backdrop of mounting legal and investigative pressure on I-PAC and some of its senior functionaries.
The Enforcement Directorate had earlier conducted searches at I-PAC's office in Kolkata and at the Loudon Street residence of the organisation's founder, Prateek Jain, in connection with the coal smuggling case.
During the raid, Banerjee herself had reached Jain's residence and later alleged that central agencies were attempting to seize confidential election-related documents linked to the TMC's campaign.
The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court and remains under judicial consideration.
More recently, I-PAC co-founder and director Vinesh Chandel was arrested in New Delhi and is currently in ED custody. The arrest had triggered a sharp reaction from TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who described it as "not democracy, but intimidation".
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Will implement women's reservation, no power can stop us: Rajnath
Vasudevanallur (Tamil Nadu) (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday slammed the Congress and DMK over the defeat of the amendment bill regarding the Women's Reservation Act in Parliament but said the government was determined to implement it and that "no power in the world can stop us," from doing so.
Addressing a poll rally in support of BJP candidate from Vasudevanallur, Ananthan Ayyasamy here in Tenkasi district for the April 23 Assembly polls, he lashed out at the ruling DMK over corruption and urged people to "give it a farewell" in the hustings.
"Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought a bill in Parliament to ensure 33 per cent reservation for our mothers and sisters in Parliament, assemblies and councils. The DMK, Congress, TMC and Communist parties did not allow it to be passed. Still, I would like to assure, on the basis of the PM's resolve, that we will certainly give 33 per cent reservation for women and no power in the world can stop us," the senior BJP leader said.
In a major setback to the BJP-led Central government, a Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures from 2029, along with increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, was defeated on Friday.
Lashing out at the DMK over corruption, Singh said some Tamil Nadu ministers were under the radar of central probe agencies such as the ED and the "TASMAC scam" was an example of how "deep-rooted" corruption was in the state.
"The DMK government is playing with the lives of poor people. Corruption allegations have become a pattern in the DMK government. The time has come to raise your voice against this corruption and give farewell to the ruling dispensation," he said, while batting for the AIADMK-led NDA in the state.
Further, the people of Tamil Nadu were known for their faith and anyone trying to mock Sanatan Dharma "will fall before the eyes of the people."
Touching upon the Thirupprankundram lamp lighting row, he charged that despite a court order, the DMK government did not allow devotees to light a lamp atop a pillar (Deepathoon) there.
If the NDA is voted to power, the lamp lighting tradition will be allowed and "this is NDA's guarantee," Singh assured.
Further, slamming the "rampant" availability of illicit liquor in the state, he said the NDA government will form local units to tackle the menace.
Also, Singh claimed that Tamil Nadu's debts stood at Rs 11 lakh crore. However, he alleged this money was not being used for public welfare and that it was "going into the pockets of DMK leaders."
"Our government will probe everyone and punish the guilty," he added.
He also dismissed DMK's allegation of "discrimination" by the Centre against Tamil Nadu vis-a-vis funds, saying PM Modi has given Rs 11 lakh crore so far.
Further, only two states--Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, have been given the defence industrial corridor.
Escalating his attack against the ruling party, he said DMK in Tamil meant "Dushprayogam (misuse of power), Muraikedu (irregularities), Kutram (crime). The NDA, on the other hand, stands for "Nalan, Nyayam (welfare, justice), Development and Amaithi (peace)," he said.
"Today in Tamil Nadu, law and order is weak and the common man does not feel safe. TN people want development and bid farewell to DMK," he added.
