PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday condemned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the IPAC office in Kolkata, terming them an “outrageous abuse” of Central agencies ahead of elections. She alleged that the raids reflected the BJP’s desperation in the face of growing public support for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Mehbooba contended that when “attempts at EVM manipulation and voter roll tampering under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) fail, Central agencies are used as tools of intimidation”. “When EVM manipulation and voter roll tampering under SIR aren’t enough, raids become their weapon,” she said.
“This intimidation only confirms the truth that Mamata Banerjee’s strategy and the people’s support have left the BJP rattled in West Bengal. Will Bengalis allow this brazen bullying of democracy,” Mehbooba questioned in a post on X.