New Delhi: Tension gripped the national capital as Trinamool Congress (TMC) Members of Parliament took to the streets in a fierce demonstration against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) ongoing raids. The protest, which erupted near the Parliament premises, saw dozens of TMC leaders chanting slogans and holding placards decrying what they called ‘political vendetta’ by central agencies.
The demonstrators, led by prominent TMC figures, accused the BJP-led government of weaponizing investigative bodies to silence opposition voices ahead of key electoral battles. ‘This is nothing but a desperate attempt to crush democracy,’ one senior TMC MP thundered amid the rallying cries. Police personnel, caught off guard by the sudden mobilization, quickly cordoned off the area and began detaining protesters to maintain order.
Eyewitnesses reported scuffles as officers physically lifted several MPs and supporters into waiting police vans. By late afternoon, over 20 individuals, including elected representatives, were taken into custody. The incident has sparked a political firestorm, with TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee slamming the action as ‘autocratic’ and vowing to escalate the matter in Parliament.
This confrontation comes amid a series of ED probes targeting TMC leaders in various corruption cases linked to West Bengal. Critics argue the timing of the raids, just days before crucial assembly sessions, reeks of electoral manipulation. As the detained MPs are produced before magistrates, the opposition is rallying support, framing it as an assault on federalism.
The episode underscores deepening fault lines between the ruling coalition and regional powers like TMC. With winter session debates looming, expect heated exchanges and possible disruptions. Political analysts warn that such escalations could further polarize the national discourse, testing the resilience of India’s democratic institutions.