After row over army drill at toll plazas, Mamata Banerjee objects to CRPF's deployment in I-T searches

Days after a row erupted over the army drill at toll plazas in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday objected to the Centre’s move to deploy CRPF personnel for providing security to Income Tax officials during search operations in the state.

Banerjee demanded that the decision be immediately revoked.

Describing the decision as “unconstitutional, illegal and against all principles of cooperative federalism”, Banerjee shot off a one-page letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in which she said deployment of any central police force to any state can only be done at the request of the state government.

“The decision must be immediately revoked,” she demanded, adding, “The state government and police forces would provide all necessary help and protection if so requested by any central government agency for any legitimate action on their part.”

Stating that no communication in this regard has been received by the state government, Banerjee said, “A copy of such instruction as reported in the media is enclosed.”

“Respective legislative and executive jurisdictions of the state governments and the central governments are clearly delineated in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and public order and police are within the domain of List II (state list),” the letter said.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to all state chief ministers.

A row had erupted over the deployment of Army personnel at toll plazas in the state with Banerjee and the Centre trading charges.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also dashed off a stinging letter to Banerjee, saying her allegations against the army can “adversely” impact the morale of the force and the Trinamool Congress chief hit back over his “wild assertion”.