The state government objects strongly to this decision, which is blatantly unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shot off a letter on Friday to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, following the deployment of central forces to assist Income-Tax (I-T) officials during their raids in the city.
In the letter, Mamata said that the state was kept in the dark about the deployment of 15 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. "The state government objects strongly to this decision, which is blatantly unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism," the letter read.
It said that the deployment of any central police force to any state could only be done at the request of the state government. "The decision must be immediately revoked," she demanded. Mamata assured that the state would provide all necessary help, if requested by any central government agency.
The letter by Mamata had been forwarded to all chief ministers as well.
The West Bengal Chief Minister's letter comes after a letter dated December 20, where the Department of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide 15 armed personnel to I-T officials for assistance in their seizure operations in Kolkata.
Sources at the I-T department said that during search operations at several places in the city, they had been outnumbered even while being accompanied by state police personnel. Thus they had requested for central forces, which would be used only if there was any lack of cooperation from the part of the state police.
"It is, by no means, a step to demean or insult the efforts of the state police. They have been kept as an additional means of precaution. Besides it is not unprecedented. Central forces have been used during recent operations in Tamil Nadu as well," an investigating official said.
Earlier this month, Mamata had protested against the deployment of army personnel at toll plazas calling it a "political vendetta."
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