Kolkata, April 10 (IANS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday countered allegations about her Trinamool Congress' funding patterns, including proceeds from sale of her paintings, asserting she doesn't take a penny from the earnings and her party files tax returns.
Her comments come a day after Bengal's ruling party furnished documents in response to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) notice seeking its account details. The agency is probing the multi-crore-rupee Saradha Ponzi scheme scam.
"They (the BJP) are questioning my paintings and books. Who are they to ask these details?
"We have filed IT returns. I don't claim to be a professional painter. I draw on canvas whatever I feel like. If people give us even one penny from their hard-earned money, it is a big blessing for us. Proceeds from the sales of my paintings and books go to the party. I don't take a rupee. I even pay for my tea at Nabanna," she said.
In its notice addressed to Trinamool general secretary Subrata Bakshi, the probe agency earlier in the week sought, within seven days, details about the party's income and expenditure since 2010.
Allegations that Banerjee's paintings were sold to Saradha group boss Sudipto Sen, main accused in the Saradha ponzi scam case, for a whopping amount, has come under the agency's scanner.
Banerjee had recently lashed out at the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party central government for using the CBI and other central agencies to intimidate the opposition.
"I give away the small paintings free of cost. One big painting was sold at more than Rs.20 lakh. Have you ever thought that I have given away paintings without taking any money.. it could have been Rs.100 crore.
"The paintings which were bought, sold at Rs.1 lakh, Rs. 2 lakh, Rs.3 lakh, Rs. 4 lakh and they weren't many.. couple of them were sold off," she said here.
"That money never went to my account. I did not take it. Jago Bangla (the party's mouthpiece) did an open exhibition of my paintings. They filed an affidavit. We also donated money from the sale of paintings to charity," said Banerjee, also the Trinamool supremo.