Kolkata: Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee’s alleged comments that “some” high court judges owe allegiance to Bengal’s governing party, made after a reported attack on his Kalighat home last Saturday, prompted Calcutta High Court to tell his lawyer on Thursday, “Your client is very intelligent. Please ask him to give a list of judges who belong to BJP and who belong to Trinamool.”Justice Krishna Rao made the observation after additional advocate general (AAG) Bilwadal Bhattacharyya highlighted Banerjee’s comments, reported in news media, and demanded that criminal contempt proceedings be started against him. Bhattacharya read out Banerjee’s alleged comments on judiciary’s link with the governing party and its impact on verdicts.The MP, whose security cover has been downgraded by the state govt, allegedly made the comments after his house was attacked late on Saturday by around 50 people armed with sticks fitted with nails.Appealing against reduction in Banerjee’s security, his counsel, Shoeb Alam, submitted before Justice Rao, “This is the speech of a man who is exasperated and is running around for your lordship’s protection. Running from pillar to post to get some protection for his family and him, and for no fault of his but because the party he is affiliated with lost elections. Because of which, not one but six attacks have taken place… This is a clear case of breakdown of rule of law.”Justice Rao said, “If you are facing difficulty, court is there. If not this court, then you go to another forum. It (the comment on judiciary’s alleged political link) can be taken if it’s a general public, but if it’s an educated person who is an MP and holding a good post in a political party. He is not a layman who doesn’t know what he is telling before the media. He can say anything against any person. But on a matter pending before the court…”The judge reserved his order on the plea against reduction in Banerjee’s security cover and the subsequent six attacks on him, the latest of which was reported last Saturday. Justice Rao repeatedly asked the state why the six attacks on Banerjee were not taken into account by the govt after the May 29 review meeting, which decided on scaling down his security from Z+ to X.When AAG Bhattacharyya submitted that the threat perception of all MPs would be reassessed at the next review meeting, scheduled for Nov-end, Justice Rao said, “You (the BJP govt) have to wait for six months? Your new regime came on May 10, immediately you reduced. There’s no problem. But once you have received representation (from Banerjee), why are you dragging the matter? Why are you waiting for six months?”Banerjee’s counsel submitted that considering the spate of violence since the announcement of the assembly poll results, his client feared he could be assassinated. He flagged multiple actions by the state, including removal of police kiosks outside Banerjee’s home, and alleged that the govt had acted mala fide.While the MP’s counsel said only two personal security officers had been guarding his client since May 12, the AAG submitted that three PSOs were tasked with protecting Banerjee. He clarified that Z+ security was usually provided to the CM, governor and other persons facing threats. Most MPs, he said, are given X security cover.“Banerjee’s residence continues to remain under high-grade security. He is being provided with three PSOs. Most of the incident petitions are pending. The right of a person to claim a particular class of security cannot be a matter of right,” the AAG submitted.
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