TMC making 'brazen' bid to protect Saradha scam accused: CPI-M

CPI(M) today accused Trinamool Congress of making "brazen" attempts to protect those guilty in the multi-crore Saradha scam and hampering the probe, saying involvement of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was now coming to the fore.
"CBI investigation into the Saradha chit fund scam is uncovering the nexus between the TMC leadership and the chit fund owner. The involvement of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other key leaders of TMC is coming into focus," CPI(M) Politburo said after a two-day meeting here.
"The state government is making brazen efforts to protect the guilty and to hamper the investigations," it said, adding that the central investigating agencies should step in to confiscate Saradha Group's properties and compensate lakhs of victims of the scam.

Condemning the "communal campaign" launched by RSS-BJP in Uttar Pradesh, it said "the spurious issue of 'love jihad' is being used by the Hindutva forces to cause communal tensions and polarisation."
Accusing BJP MP Adityanath of using inflammatory communal propaganda in the campaign for the UP bye-elections, it demanded stringent action by the state government "against those indulging in communal hate speech and creating communal tensions."
"Election Commission should have acted promptly in prohibiting Adityanath from making speeches during the election campaign. It has confined the action to directing the administration to file a FIR against him," the CPI(M) said.

The party also expressed deep concern over the severe and widespread floods in Jammu and Kashmir leading to loss of lives, widespread destruction of property and displacement of lakhs of people and said there was an urgent need to immediately step up relief and rescue measures by the Centre.