TMC show-causes minister for calling party MLAs, MPs from film industry looters

A day after West Bengal minister Srikanta Mahata hit out at several Trinamool Congress MLAs and MPs from the showbiz industry calling them looters, the Trinamool Congress issued a showcause notice to the minister.

A day after West Bengal minister Srikanta Mahata hit out at several Trinamool Congress MLAs and MPs from the showbiz industry calling them looters, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) issued a showcause notice to the minister.

In the video that has been doing the rounds on social media, the MLA of Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district alleged that leaders like Mimi Chakraborty, Nusrat Jahan, June Malia, Saayoni Ghosh, Sayantika Banerjee had become looters while honest workers were being ignored by the party top brass.The TMC's Paschim Medinipur co-ordinator Ajit Maity on Sunday said Mahata was show-caused for his statement which “harmed the image of the party”.In his reply to the show-cause notice, Mahata regretted making that statement and said it was an “emotional outburst”, according to Maity.“Earlier, we also tried to make Abhishek Banerjee, Subrata Bakshi understand. But they did not want to understand. They are identifying bad people as good fellow. How can we survive then? They should say bad people are bad people. Starting from Mahadev to Sandhya Roy, June Malia, Sayani, Sayantika, Mimi, Nusrat. If they become assets for the party, then we cannot be a part of this party anymore,” Srikanta Mahata said.

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"If there are instances of loot of money, it is advisable for a minister to go to jail. Otherwise, people will point fingers at ministers and label all of us as thieves. Aren't all of us facing similar taunts?" the minister said.He was apparently referring to the arrests of senior leaders Partha Chatterjee and Anubrata Mondal by central agencies in connection with school jobs scam and alleged cattle smuggling respectively.Mahata said, "If the party only listens to thieves, if people in metros like Kolkata are involved in rampant loot, should we keep silent?... We have to choose our path. Either we have to go to an ashram shunning everything or participate in social movements."TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the party does not approve of his views."If Srikanta had anything to say, he would have to follow the party discipline and decorum. He cannot go against any decision taken by the party," Ghosh said.Mahata named, among others, actors June Maliah and Sayantika Banerjee.MLA June Maliah said she is happy that the party’s disciplinary committee has promptly taken up the issue and Mahata was show-caused.

ALSO READ | Mimi Chakraborty loses 7k pics and 500 videos from phone, says I feel disgustedSayantika Banerjee, a state secretary of the party, said, "I have heard about the issue but don't want to comment in public.”BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said Mahata has spoken the truth that the TMC is a party of looters."Srikanta should explain what he meant by saying that these MLAs and MPs from the showbiz industry are on a looting spree. What exactly are they looting? He owes an explanation to the people of Bengal," Majumdar added.Mahata could not be reached for comment.