Mamata Banerjee said the BJP government at the Centre used central agencies to target opposition leaders “just when elections are around the corner”

Mamata Banerjee has written to opposition leaders across the country expressing “deep concern” over what she alleges is central agencies misused by the ruling BJP to target rivals, and has called for a meeting to discuss a “way forward”.

The Bengal Chief Minister said, in a letter dated Sunday, that the BJP government at the Centre used central agencies to target political opponents “just when elections are around the corner” anywhere in the country.

“I urge that everyone of us come together for a meeting to deliberate on the way forward at a place as per everyone’s convenience and suitability. The need of the hour is for all progressive forces in this country to come together and fight this oppressive force,” she wrote, urging a “unified and principled opposition” to make way for a government “that our country deserves”.

The letter emerged on a day her nephew, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, sought more time from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had summoned him today in a coal scam case.

“Central agencies such as the ED, CBI, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)and the Income Tax Department are being used to target, harass and corner political opponents across the country for vendetta,” Mamata Banerjee wrote in the letter.

“We all must resist the ruling BJP’s intention to misuse these central agencies with the sole intent of suppressing opposition leaders. Central agencies are jolted to action just when elections are round the corner.”

She said laws “bulldozed through” parliament during an opposition walkout enabled the Centre to extend the tenure of the ED and CBI chiefs.