Kolkata: West Bengal government on Sunday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate took action in Saradha chit fund scam at the behest of Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and questioned the timing of the "political action before the election".
"ED all of a sudden has become active before the election. What is it upto? What is the message it is trying to give? It is acting on behalf of its political masters, especially Finance Minister P Chidambaram under whose jurisdiction the ED falls," State Finance Minister Amit Mitra told reporters in Kolkata.
Mitra's outburst followed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's flare-up against the SEBI for what, she alleged, it's remaining silent over the scam and against Chidambaram.
"What was the ED doing for the last one year? What prompted it to jump into action all of a sudden?" Mitra asked. He also attacked Congress vice President Rahul Gandhi for attacking the state government over the alleged inaction in the Saradha deposit scandal.
"His comments show his immaturity and inexperience. He should have inquired after what the state government had done in dealing with the scam and ensuring that those who had been cheated get back their money," he said.
Mitra also questioned why the ED was silent on other scams across the country. he was present on the dais with Giriraj Singh.Mitra also claimed that the TMC government's efforts to take action against these companies were negated by the Centre's lacklustre attitude in giving assent to the bill passed by the state assembly earlier this year against chit funds.
"We had written twice to the Union Home Ministry on why the bill, passed by our Assembly, has not been sent for presidential assent. There has been no reply. It has to be answered why even after incorporating the points it (Centre) has raised, the bill is yet to be sent for assent," Mitra said.
Mitra said the assent to the bill would give the government teeth to deal with the Ponzi schemes. "We are worried about this delay in getting the presidential assent."
Asked why the SIT, set up by the state government, failed to nab Sudipto Sen's wife and son, which the ED did, Mitra said, "SEBI and RBI have the powers. The SIT and the Justice Shyamal Sen Commission are doing their work.
Does the SIT has the power to seize?" "If the bill that has been held back by the Centre gets the assent, then we will be legally empowered to deal with the ponzi schemes. The state governments have to be legally empowered," he said.
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