Kolkata, 7 August (H.S.):
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has issued a strongly-worded open letter addressed to West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) officers, urging them to perform their constitutional duties without fear or favoritism. The letter, shared on his official account on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, also includes a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of political manipulation and misuse of the administrative machinery.
In the letter, Adhikari alleged that Mamata Banerjee’s refusal to comply with the Election Commission’s directive to file FIRs was not meant to protect government officials, but rather aimed at shielding members of I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee) and their affiliates. According to him, individuals associated with I-PAC have infiltrated the electoral process under the guise of data entry operators, and have been manipulating the system for years by adding fake voters, deleting Hindu voters, and inserting Bangladeshi nationals into the electoral rolls.
Adhikari further claimed that WBCS officers have been compelled to compromise their statutory responsibilities due to pressure from senior bureaucrats and prolonged systemic neglect. He accused Pratik Jain, an alleged associate of I-PAC and financier of illegal activities on behalf of the ruling party, of being central to these operations — financed by what he described as ill-gotten wealth of Mamata Banerjee and her nephew.
Calling for resistance and integrity, Adhikari wrote, “The time has come for you to reclaim your constitutional authority and protect the future of the state and the next generation.”
He cautioned that Mamata Banerjee had already sacrificed her ministers, MLAs, and party workers to legal consequences, and was now solely focused on shielding herself and her nephew from accountability.
Concluding the letter, Adhikari appealed to the conscience of the officers, “Do not fall for Mamata Banerjee’s crocodile tears. Work without fear or bias. Ma Kali will protect you from her clutches.”
The letter is the latest in a series of political escalations between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress, particularly in the lead-up to crucial civic and assembly-level developments in the state.
No official response from the West Bengal government or the Trinamool Congress had been received at the time of reporting.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh