"Mamata sympathises with thieves": BJP attacks TMC after minister's arrest by ED

Dakshin Dinajpur (West Bengal) [India], October 27 : West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Friday targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the arrest of West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick in an alleged case of corruption in PDS ration distribution, saying "His arrest was certain...Mamata Banerjee sympathises with thieves."
"His arrest was certain because everyone already knew how smuggling of rations and food items was done... What Mamata Banerjee is saying is nothing new, she is the first to sit in a dharna to save the officer, and she has a lot of sympathy for the thieves," he said.
He further attacked the CM, Mamata Banerjee, over her statement that Jyotipriya Mallick has diabetes, saying, "If he has diabetes, should we give him the responsibility for stealing?"
"Why is there so much fear? If there is no theft, then let the ED and CBI do their work, everything will be clear after the investigation," he added.
An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team late Thursday night arrested sitting West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader, Jyotripriya Mallik, in connection with an alleged case of corruption in the public distribution system.
The arrest came a day after the ED conducted searches at Mallick's residence in Salt Lake, on the outskirts of Kolkata.
As media persons jostled and gathered around the minister while he was being whisked away by the ED sleuths, with the help of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, the minister said he was the "victim of a grave conspiracy".
"West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick has been arrested by ED in connection with an alleged case of corruption in rationing distribution," the agency stated in an official release.
The ED had been carrying out searches in connection with the alleged case of corruption in ration distribution.
Mallick is currently the state minister for Forest Affairs and previously held the portfolio for the Food and Civil Supplies department.