A complaint has been filed against former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her recent public remarks critical of constitutional institutions and “linking the Union government to a political killing in Bangladesh” were “prejudicial to the nation’s sovereignty and public order”.
The complaint was filed on Wednesday by advocate Rinki Chatterjee Singh of the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Siliguri, West Bengal, an official said.
Rinki Singh said that the former West Bengal Chief Minister had, through “various public speeches, political platforms and media interactions”, allegedly made “provocative and inflammatory statements” against Constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission and the armed forces deployed during the recently-held Assembly elections, reports PTI.
In her complaint, the advocate also claimed that Mamata Banerjee had “publicly questioned the integrity, neutrality and credibility” of such institutions, thereby “attempting to create public distrust and disaffection against the State machinery”.
“Such allegations were allegedly made openly before the public and media with the apparent intention of lowering the image and credibility of the Union government before the international community and creating hostility between two sovereign nations,” the advocate said in the complaint.
Rinki Singh also referred to a Trinamool event held at Rani Rashmoni Sarani in Kolkata on June 2, and claimed that Ms. Banerjee had stated that “she was privy to confidential discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and had linked the Government of India and the Union Home Minister to a political killing in neighbouring Bangladesh”.
The complainant contended that the statements were made for “achieving political mileage and personal political advantage”, and prima facie amounted to “acts prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity and international standing of India”.
Advocte Singh said the remarks were capable of “inciting public disorder, communal unrest and disharmony among different groups”, and could adversely affect diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.
The Trinamool Congress is yet to respond to the allegations in the complaint.