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KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee responded to ED moving Calcutta HC against her for “obstruction” during Thursday’s raids on I-PAC’s office and its director Pratik Jain’s residence by announcing a street protest on Friday afternoon against what she claimed was “a clear case of theft”, report Tamaghna Banerjee & Debashis Konar. “They lodged a false case against me. If they try to steal from my home, will I not try to prevent it? They stole everything – all data, including the SIR list. If someone tries to kill you, will you not try to defend yourself?” Mamata said. TMC functionaries and workers held a series of protests statewide. Friday’s rally from Jadavpur 8B bus stop to Hazra Crossing in south Kolkata is scheduled to begin at 2pm. The entire TMC brass, barring “those busy with crucial SIR work”, will be in attendance. “Many people sought our help for SIR. Even that data has been stolen (during ED search of I-PAC addresses). More you try to disturb me, more I will retaliate,” the CM said. “This (the protest) is a reaction to their action.”
