Akhilesh accuses BJP of misusing CBI for political motives

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the BJP wants to stay in power "by hook or by crook" and was using the CBI as an "election agent". Yadav's remarks came against the backdrop of West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's sit-in over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police commissioner in connection with chit fund scams.

"The BJP wants to stay in power by hook or by crook. They are so scared of losing (general elections) and the CBI is being used as election agents," Yadav tweeted Sunday night. An all-out war broke out between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee government Sunday, with the feisty West Bengal leader beginning her sit-in protest last night in front of Metro Cinema in Kolkata to protest against "the attack on constitutional norms".

"This is undemocratic and against the spirit of the Constitution. We demand due process be followed so that the CBI is not used as a tool of political interference," he said. While Yadav spoke to Banerjee on Sunday night, Samajwadi Party leader Kiranmoy Nanda reached the protest venue Monday morning to express the party's solidarity with Banerjee over the issue.

Banerjee, who is one of the prime movers behind the effort to cobble together an anti-BJP alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, has alleged that Modi and Shah want to impose President's rule in states where a non-BJP party is in power.

(With inputs from agencies.)