West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to the streets of Kolkata on Friday, January 9, 2026, leading a fiery protest march against the Enforcement Directorate's raids on the office of political consultancy I-PAC and the residence of its co-founder, Pratik Jain. The march, joined by senior Trinamool Congress leaders and party workers, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing face-off between the TMC and central agencies.
Democracy Under Attack, Says Banerjee
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, Banerjee accused it of systematically misusing probe agencies like the ED to intimidate the opposition. Her protest was not limited to Kolkata; it came in the wake of the detention of several TMC Members of Parliament in New Delhi. The MPs were protesting outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah's office against the same raids.
In a series of posts on social media platform X, the TMC chief condemned the treatment of her party's parliamentarians. "I strongly condemn the shameful and unacceptable treatment meted out to our Members of Parliament," Banerjee stated. She described the act of dragging elected representatives on the street for protesting as "arrogance in uniform" rather than lawful enforcement.
Drawing a sharp contrast, Banerjee accused the BJP of double standards. "When BJP leaders protest, they expect red carpets and special privileges. When opposition MPs raise their voices, they are dragged, detained, and humiliated," she wrote. She asserted that such actions reveal the ruling party's vision of democracy, which demands obedience over dissent.
A Direct Challenge to the Centre
The Chief Minister framed the confrontation as a battle for constitutional values. Issuing a direct warning, she emphasized that respect in a democracy must be a two-way street. "You respect us, we respect you. You drag us on the road, and we will drag you back to the constitutional idea of tolerance, dissent, and democratic morality," Banerjee declared. She firmly stated that dignity is a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution, not a favour bestowed by those in power.
The TMC has positioned the ED's actions as part of a larger pattern by the Centre to destabilize opposition-ruled states and silence critical voices ahead of crucial electoral battles. The raids on I-PAC, which has worked with various political parties including the TMC, have been viewed through this lens.
The BJP's Stance and Political Fallout
The Bharatiya Janata Party has consistently rejected allegations of political vendetta. The party maintains that central investigative agencies like the ED operate independently and strictly follow legal procedures without any political interference.
However, the physical and vocal protest led by Mamata Banerjee herself signifies a hardening of positions. By personally hitting the streets, the veteran leader has turned the legal action into a major political showdown, rallying her party cadre and framing the issue as an assault on federalism and democratic rights. The event sets the stage for intensified political conflict between the TMC and the BJP in the lead-up to future elections.
