Chief minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the central government for the Income Tax survey at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai saying that it is a political vendetta of the BJP-led government.

Strongly condemning the I-T survey, the CM said, “They cannot use the agencies wherever they are aggrieved. Every democratic institution has the right to express their view. Certainly it is not a hide and seek game. Something happened and after that this happened. So, it is a retaliation. The BBC is the most reputed organization and always gives the latest and detailed information. Why have they chosen BBC? If there was anything illegal, they should have written a letter. I do not believe that because the BBC is doing something against this government, the next they (Centre) started their operation like this. This is not desirable, but very unfortunate and a political vendetta. BJP is running the government through this vendetta only.”

Claiming that the media is being controlled by the Centre, Miss Banerjee said, “It is not only affecting the freedom of press but there will be no media left in this country. Media is already controlled by them. I am sorry to say that the media cannot raise their voice, their management will just terminate their service within 24 hours. My full sympathy and support is with the media and BBC.

The chief minister also alleged the central government of wanting to capture the judiciary. “Sometimes, they have said against the judiciary also and want to capture it. But we want the judiciary must be neutral. Only the judiciary can save this country now.”

Comparing the Centre with Hitler, Miss Banerjee said, “I am abiding by the constitution and the mandate of the people. Where is their mandate? They don’t care about the mandate of the people. Their only mandate is dictatorship, more than Hitler. The chief minister’s reaction came after the Income Tax department carried out surveys at the premises of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Delhi and Mumbai yesterday.

As the I-T survey of the BBC offices continued for the second day today, Trinamul Congress MP, Mahua Moitra, took to her social media, hitting out at the BJP and said: “I-T ‘Surveys’ continuing at BBC offices. Closest anyone in BJP has ever come to fighting the British.”