In what will be construed as a tit-for-tat response to the Assam government's decision to register two FIRs against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the NRC issue, Kolkata Police lodged two FIRs against Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The FIRs were lodged following a complaint by a TMC MLA.
Mahua Maitra, a former investment banker who is now a TMC MLA, was part of an eight-member delegation from the party that went to Silchar in Assam on Thursday to assess the situation there after the publication of the NRC. But the TMC delegation was detained at the airport by the Assam Police. In addition to Maitra, the team had one minister and six MPs.
The TMC delegation members alleged that they were manhandled by the police team, including women officers. They alleged some women delegation members were pushed to the ground in scuffles with the police.
"Our mobile phones were forcibly taken away, and we were not allowed to step outside the airport. We were physically tortured," said Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a delegation member. Suskhendu Sekhar Roy, another member of the TMC delegation, had a pacemaker in his chest but he too was reportedly manhandled.
Maitra lodged two complaints against Sonowal. One with Airport Police Station and the other with Alipore Police Station, the vicinity of which resides in.
Maitra has alleged criminal conspiracy and outraging of modesty of a woman. In her complaint, Maitra alleged, "All was done at the instruction of chief minister [Sonowal]." Hence, Sonowal was made principle accused in the case.
However, sources have confirmed that no action has been initiated by the Assam government regarding the FIRs against Banerjee and no action has also been initiated in Kolkata around 24 hours after the lodging of FIRs against Sonowal.
Banerjee's office refused to say anything about the FIRs being lodged against Sonowal.
A close confidante of Banerjee said, "Let them file 100 FIRs. This is all drama."
Meanwhile, the TMC delegation that was sent back was disallowed to hold any meeting in Silchar in the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley region of Assam. In fact, no auditorium was even allowed to be given on rent for the TMC delegation's planned meeting in Silchar.
BJP MP from Assam Bijay Chakraborty alleged around 1.18 lakh cases were sent to the West Bengal government few months back for verification for their address. "West Bengal government did not respond to them. Even Mamata Banerjee refused to identify people of her own state. She has no locus standi to raise her voice against this now," said Chakraborty.
The MP said the NRC is a serious issue and it's done with great care and proper investigation. More than 50,000 employees were engaged in the humongous process, which was finished by the Sonowal government in the shortest period of time, he declared.
"Even after that, West Bengal chief minister is raising objections. Her objection is against Supreme Court," said Chakraborty.