Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a former Calcutta High Court judge who resigned to join politics, is now a Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament. Over a year into his parliamentary role, he has voiced strong criticism of both central investigative agencies and the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal. He believes the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate are not pursuing corruption cases against Trinamool Congress leaders effectively. Gangopadhyay also expressed dissatisfaction with how the party has utilized his skills, stating he has not been given sufficient organizational responsibilities. He emphasized that Bengali leaders should have more decision-making power in the state unit ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. He also criticized the state government's handling of industry, education, and land policy, calling for stronger intervention from the central government to address alleged corruption.
Criticism of Investigative Agencies' Performance
Gangopadhyay strongly criticized the performance of the CBI and ED, describing their work as very poor. He questioned why cases against Trinamool Congress leaders are not being pursued properly, with investigations allegedly stopping after most work is completed. He pointed out that the agencies are not taking steps to vacate stay orders in the Supreme Court, allowing accused individuals to benefit from legal delays. Despite numerous searches and raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate, he questioned the actual outcomes of these actions. The former judge called for both agencies to be more transparent and sincere in their efforts, expressing disappointment over what he sees as incomplete investigations against political figures accused of corruption.
Views on BJP Leadership and Future Elections
Speaking about party organization in West Bengal, Gangopadhyay praised the state BJP president as a capable leader who works inclusively. However, he mentioned that at least two individuals in key positions are disliked, leading to demotivation among party workers. He suggested this could impact nomination processes for the upcoming Assembly elections. Gangopadhyay advocated for experienced Bengali leaders like Suvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghosh, Tapas Roy, and Shankar Ghosh to have greater decision-making authority rather than relying heavily on central leadership. He emphasized that Bengalis want to see local faces leading the party, while still respecting guidance from the Prime Minister and Home Minister. He also admitted the party has not fully utilized his potential in organizational work.
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