TMC members allege misuse of CBI; stage walkout in LS

Trinamool Congress members on Tuesday alleged in Lok Sabha that the Central Bureau of Investigation was being misused in the Saradha scam and staged a walkout, even as government said it was willing to discuss issues related to the fraud.

As soon as the house met for the day, more than 20 TMC members trooped into the well and shouted slogans for sometime before staging a walkout. They alleged that the country's federal structure was being challenged by misusing CBI in the Saradha case.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected an adjournment notice given by TMC leader Saugata Roy.

TMC members were heard shouting that misuse of CBI should be stopped.

Observing that it does not make any sense to disrupt the House everyday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said government was ready for a discussion.

"Let there be a debate on Saradha scam anytime," the minister said, adding that corruption cannot be hidden by shouting slogans in the house.

However, Congress party members protested against Naidu making an intervention in the matter, with party leader Mallikarjun Kharge wondering how the parliamentary affairs minister can clarify on the Saradha issue during question hour.

Last week, the CBI had arrested West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra in connection with the scam.