Kolkata, 10 January (H.S.):

The political confrontation over the coal smuggling case in West Bengal has intensified. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, and BJP state vice-president Jagannath Chattopadhyay have challenged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to prove the allegations against them within a reasonable timeframe, failing which they will face defamation suits.

Suvendu Adhikari's lawyer has already sent a legal notice for defamation to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The notice demands that the Chief Minister present all evidence related to the alleged accusations within 72 hours. The notice clearly states that if the evidence is not provided within the stipulated time, both civil and criminal defamation proceedings will be initiated against her.

On the other hand, BJP state vice-president Jagannath Chattopadhyay has issued a video message on social media, openly challenging the Chief Minister. In his message, he said that the Chief Minister should either prove her allegations within a reasonable time or be prepared to face defamation proceedings.

Notably, Jagannath Chattopadhyay was previously the state general secretary of the West Bengal BJP and was recently appointed as the state vice-president after the formation of the party's new state committee.

In recent days, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had stated at public forums that the money earned from the coal smuggling scam in West Bengal reached Union Home Minister Amit Shah through BJP state leaders. She claimed that this money was routed either through Jagannath Chattopadhyay or Suvendu Adhikari.

Responding to these allegations, Jagannath Chattopadhyay also stated that from 2016 to 2020, when coal smuggling was at its peak in West Bengal, he was a journalist. He left journalism and joined the BJP before the 2021 assembly elections.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey