Kolkata, Aug. 4 -- Nearly three months after forming its first government in Bengal, the BJP has publicly acknowledged that extortion and syndicate-style practices persist within sections of its own ranks, with senior leaders warning workers against corruption and misuse of the party's name.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and Panchayat minister Dilip Ghosh have repeatedly cautioned party workers and newly elected legislators against indulging in illegal cash collections. Their remarks mark a significant shift, as the BJP had long accused the previous TMC of institutionalising extortion and "cut money" politics.
Ghosh had said the entrenched "culture of extortion" could not disappear overnight. He warned that some BJP functionaries and MLAs were becoming "addicted to the honey" of easy money and stressed that the government follows a zero-tolerance policy, with police instructed to act immediately on complaints.
Bhattacharya admitted the party had not been entirely successful in eliminating extortion after assuming office. He said more than 100 local leaders had already been suspended for various irregularities, including allegedly extorting builders.
Several arrests have followed complaints of extortion, including in Howrah, where individuals allegedly demanded money from promoters while posing as BJP leaders. However, critics have questioned whether suspensions alone are sufficient, arguing that criminal allegations should also lead to FIRs and police action.
Minister Agnimitra Paul urged citizens to report genuine cases of extortion through the government's toll-free helplines, while Transport minister Arjun Singh acknowledged the presence of touts in the Motor Vehicles Department and said action was being taken. Mpost
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.