Assam CM Slams Mamata’s Conduct During ED Raids, Calls It ‘Deeply Disturbing’

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched a sharp attack on his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee, questioning her conduct during the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches linked to political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Kolkata.

Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Sarma said the scenes that unfolded during the raids were troubling and could undermine public confidence in constitutional authority. He referred to Banerjee’s presence at the search locations and alleged interference with official proceedings as “highly inappropriate”.

“The way she behaved at the site, her actions at what was effectively a crime scene, the manner in which official documents were taken away, and the language used against the Union Home Minister are all matters of serious concern,” Sarma said. “Such conduct does not befit someone holding the office of a Chief Minister and risks eroding public respect.”

He added that while he did not wish to dwell further on the episode, it was “unfortunate” if a sitting chief minister had chosen to involve herself in an ongoing investigation in such a manner. “If reports of confiscating files and detaining individuals are true, this goes well beyond what is acceptable in a democratic system,” he remarked.

ED alleges obstruction

The comments follow dramatic scenes in Kolkata on Thursday, when ED teams conducted searches at the residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain and at the firm’s office in connection with a probe into an alleged multi-crore coal pilferage racket. Banerjee reportedly arrived at the locations during the raids, accusing the central agency of attempting to access sensitive data of the Trinamool Congress ahead of crucial Assembly elections.

The ED, however, maintained that the searches were part of a lawful investigation into financial irregularities and later alleged that the Chief Minister and state police personnel obstructed the operation. The agency claimed that “key evidence” was forcibly removed during the course of the search, a charge that has further intensified the political confrontation between the Centre and the West Bengal government.

Immigration and governance in Bengal

Sarma also used the occasion to target the Banerjee-led administration on the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh, asserting that West Bengal required a change in leadership to deal with the matter effectively.

“It is essential to work extensively in Bengal, and for that, our party must form the government there,” he said. “We have a strong organisational team in the state; it only needs one opportunity.”

Drawing a comparison with the northeastern states, Sarma claimed that while development initiatives were progressing in Assam and Tripura, similar momentum was missing in West Bengal. “One of the key reasons is the failure to take firm action against illegal infiltration,” he said.

He argued that if the approach adopted in Assam and Tripura were implemented in West Bengal, the situation could see significant improvement. 

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