'Let's see who stays, India or Modi,' Mamata Banerjee challenges PM to arrest her

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out at the Centre as she criticised the I-T raid at the residence of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao.

“If a state government officer involved in corruption, Centre should inform state, but they don't; even raided TN Chief Secretary’s house, this is unconstitutional,” she said.

“From this Midnapur, I challenge that either PM Modi or India will stay because people are the biggest God. Want to tell Narendra Modiji and all BJP workers that don't attack anyone, just arrest me and all your political revenge will be completed,” she added.

ALSO READ | Mamata Banerjee terms I-T raid at Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary's residence as vindictive, unethical

Earlier on Wednesday, Mamata had called the I-T raids at Rama Mohana Rao’s home a “vindictive and unethical” act by the central agencies devalues the institution of head of the civil service.

“Why this vindictive, unethical, technically improper action? Is it only to disturb the federal structure? Why do not they raid Amit Shah and others...” she said in a statement.

Banerjee said corruption needs to be strongly condemned, but “the raid on Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary by central agencies devalues the institution of head of the civil service”.

ALSO READ | Income Tax raids at Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary Rammohan Rao's residence

“The proper procedure should have been to take the state leadership into confidence and removing him from the post prior to any preemptive action, based on information,” she said.

The Income-Tax department on Wednesday conducted searches at over a dozen locations in connection with its tax evasion probe against the son and few other relatives of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao.

It is understood that the official residence of the Chief Secretary in Chennai was also raided.

(With inputs from agencies)