Mamata backs Chidambaram, slams BJP

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the process in which former finance minister P. Chidambaram was arrested from his Jor Bagh (New Delhi) residence on Wednesday night.

“P. Chidambaram is an economist and has formerly been a home minister and finance minister. The manner in which he has been arrested is depressing,” said Mamata at Digha, near Kolkata.

The West Bengal CM added, “There are four pillars of democracy: democratic institutions, Election Commission, media and judicial system. The democratic system of our country is crying, yet the judiciary is not coming to its aid."

Chidambaram has been arrested by the CBI for his alleged role of corruption and money laundering in the INX Media case.

The veteran Congress leader's interim protection was rejected by the High Court on Tuesday and a day after i.e. on Wednesday the Supreme Court did not list his matter for an urgent hearing.