Rajnath warns center has powers to deal with 'constitutional breakdown' in Bengal

Describing as "unprecedented" the Kolkata Police action against a CBI team, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday told Parliament this would lead to anarchy and pose a threat to the federal system and warned that the Centre has the powers to deal with the "constitutional breakdown" in West Bengal.

As the tense standoff between the CBI and the Kolkata police for the second day echoed in Parliament and led to a washout of the proceedings following opposition protests, Singh called as unfortunate the action by the Kolkata police against a team of CBI officers over the central agency's attempt to question its chief in connection with chit fund scams.

In the Lok Sabha, members of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress(TMC) were joined in their protest by those from the Congress, BJD, NCP, SP and RJD. They slammed the Centre over the move by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) and its timing with many of them accusing the Modi government of misusing the central agency for political ends ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. After repeated adjournments, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day hours earlier than scheduled after opposition members created a ruckus.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee Sunday began a sit-in protest in Kolkata over the CBI's attempt to question Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar A CBI team, which went to Kumar's residence in the city's Loudon Street area, was denied permission, bundled into police jeeps and whisked to a police station on Sunday.

Amid noisy protests by the TMC members, Singh told the Lok Sabha the police action was "unprecedented" since the CBI was stopped from lawfully doing its duty when it wanted to question Kumar regarding the chit fund scams. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha on the prevailing situation in Kolkata, Singh described the action against the CBI probe team as "unprecedented" in the history of the country and a threat to the federal political system of the country.

"There may be a constitutional breakdown in West Bengal... under the Constitution, the central government has been vested with the power to maintain normalcy in any part of the country," he said. "Whatever happened on Sunday, it indicates a constitutional breakdown," Singh said amid din in the House.

The CBI officers were obstructed and detained by the police during the discharge of their lawful duties, Singh said. "Such confrontation between the law enforcement agencies of the country is not only unfortunate, but it is also dangerous for the federal and democratic polity of this country.

"If law enforcement agencies, whether of the Centre or of the State are not allowed to carry out their lawful duties, it might result in anarchy and obstruct the due process of law as enshrined in our Constitution," Singh said. He also said that 'police' and 'public order' are state subjects and the Centre respects that. "Nevertheless, the Constitution entrusts upon the central government the duty to ensure that the governance of the country is carried out in accordance with its provisions," he added.

Further, the home minister hoped that the West Bengal government, as well as other state governments, provide a conducive atmosphere for law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties. The minister said it was not that the CBI team straightaway went to the police commissioner's residence for questioning but was driven to this course because he did not make himself available for questioning.

In the Saradha scam, savings of lakhs of poor people of Eastern India, primarily from West Bengal were swindled by the Saradha Group. The Supreme Court ordered a CBI inquiry into the Saradha scam, keeping in view the inter-state ramifications, possible international money laundering, serious regulatory failures, and the alleged political nexus of the accused in the scam, he noted. "It has been reported that the several accused in the scam are close to the political establishment in the Government of West Bengal," Singh said.

Earlier, opposition parties in the Lok Sabha attacked the government over the alleged misuse of central agencies against political rivals, saying it was against democratic norms. TMC leader Saugata Roy said there is a crisis in West Bengal and accused the Centre of "misusing" the CBI to politically capture the state.

While alleging that the Centre was "constantly using the CBI to throttle the Opposition", Roy said the party is strongly protesting with all forces at its command. BJD leader B Mahtab said the incident smacks of impropriety and also questions the integrity of the CBI.

"We are not a banana republic...," he said, adding the CBI is becoming a "political stooge and political weapon" in the hands of the Centre. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge charged that the government was using the CBI as a weapon to finish the Opposition and put in place an autocratic regime.

Referring to alleged misuse of the CBI, Kharge said such things have happened not only in West Bengal but also in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Neither the people nor any party would bow down before such actions, he added.

NCP leader Supriya Sule said her party condemns the CBI for allegedly using its muscle power against a woman chief minister. Dharmendra Yadav (SP) and Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) also spoke against the Centre.

CPI-M member Badaruddoza Khan said both the Trinamool Congress and the Centre were at fault, wondering why the CBI did not take action during the last four years. Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were also washed out amid ruckus by TMC members over the issue of alleged misuse of the CBI by the Centre.

As soon as the House assembled, slogan shouting by the TMC members resulted in adjournment of the House till 2 PM. The same situation prevailed when the House resumed in the afternoon.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien had moved a notice for discussion on the issue. But he was told by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu that he can raise this issue during Zero Hour as also during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President on his address. In the meanwhile, TMC and SP members trooped into the well and started raising slogans.

(With inputs from agencies.)