Siliguri, 08th January: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday morning conducted raids at the residence and office of Prateek Jain, a key figure of I-PAC and head of the Trinamool Congress IT cell, in connection with the investigation into the coal scam. The action triggered sharp political reactions across the state. In protest against the raids, the Trinamool Congress organised demonstrations and a rally in Siliguri. The party has already called for protest marches across West Bengal.
Following the ED action, a protest programme was held at Hashmi Chowk in Siliguri on the call of the Darjeeling District Trinamool Congress. District leaders, along with leaders and workers from various blocks and organisational units, participated in the programme. A protest march was taken out from Hashmi Chowk with placards and banners.
During the demonstration, Trinamool leaders and workers alleged that central investigative agencies like the ED and CBI are being used as political tools to suppress voices opposing the BJP. They claimed that the action was not a neutral investigation but a planned attempt to harass opposition leaders.
Trinamool leaders further accused the BJP-led central government of repeatedly resorting to retaliatory measures to silence democratic voices, terming the ED raid at Prateek Jain’s residence as an example of such politics. The party asserted that it would continue to protest on the streets against such actions and intensify the movement in the coming days.