Mamata challenges IT authorities to look into BJP leaders’ chopper

A day after a dispute broke out over the TMC’s allegation that income tax officers were conducting a “raid” on party politician Abhishek Banerjee’s aircraft, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee challenged the tax officers to examine the helicopter that BJP leaders were using for the election campaign on Monday.

Speaking at a rally in Cooch Behar, Banerjee said that the BJP is abusing federal agencies to target the TMC in advance of the polls.

Before the trial run, Income Tax officers raided and searched Abhishek Banerjee’s helicopter, but they turned up nothing. Despite our information indicating there was gold and money onboard the helicopter, the IT officials said they had discovered nothing. Such activities are not what we do.”

“The BJP is the one engaged in these kinds of activities. However, she questioned if federal agency employees would ever dare to examine BJP leaders’ helicopters.

The Trinamool Congress said on Sunday that Income Tax officers had searched its general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s helicopter in Kolkata’s Behala flying club. They claimed this was a premeditated move by the BJP to intimidate and harass opposition candidates who they are unable to negotiate with on a political level.

The TMC leader wasn’t even in the helicopter when the controversy surrounding their “raid” allegation broke out, according to I-T department sources, and there was no enforcement action, like a search or survey.

In addition, the TMC chief said that the BJP was abusing government agencies and preventing “level playing fields for all political parties” throughout the election process.

“The BJP might use NIA just days before the first phase of the election to arrest our leaders so that they can have a free run,” she said.

TMC politician and chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee I.T. officers allegedly searched Abhishek Banerjee’s helicopter.