Bangaon by-poll a challenge: Mukul Roy

Kolkata, Jan 18 (IANS) Trinamool Congress bigwig Mukul Roy Sunday termed the upcoming Bangaon Lok Sabha by-polls in West Bengal a challenge.

The former union minister, who has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning in the multi-crore Saradha scam, also claimed he was not involved in any kind of illegal activity.

Addressing party workers in this Lok Sabha constituency of North 24 Parganas district, the Trinamool national general secretary also accused a section of the media of wrongly projecting that Bengal was in flames.

"This Lok Sabha by-poll is a challenge for the people, and it is up to the party workers to convey the people, the Mamata Banerjee government's message, her agenda of development and ensure that we emerge triumphant here," said Roy.

The Feb 13 by-poll, necessitated by the death of Trinamool MP Kapil Krishna Thakur, has acquired immense significance for the ruling party especially in the wake of Thakur's brother Manjul Krishna Thakur - an influential minister from Banerjee's cabinet - resigning and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Trinamool has fielded Kapil Krishna's widow Mamatabala for the seat.

On the ongoing CBI probe in the Saradha scam that has led to the arrest of several high profile people including Trinamool Rajya Sabha members Kunal Ghosh, Srinjoy Bose and state Transport Minister Madan Mitra, Roy, who in the wake of the CBI call has been frequenting Delhi, said he was innocent.

"It is being said that we have done some illegal activity but let me reiterate once again that I as a responsible leader and worker of the Trinamool Congress or in my personal capacity never did anything illegal," said Roy, slated to fly off to Delhi yet again.

A section of the media is projecting as if we are disturbing peace and Bengal is in flame. So I asked them, in the past four years that we have been in power, what is number of such incidents? They could not get the incidents to total to even half a percent. That means Bengal has peace," said Roy iterating that Banerjee will continue to be the symbol of integrity for years to come.