Kolkata, Sep 6 (IANS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday disapproved of former Union minister and Congress top gun being sent to Tihar Jail in the INX Media case, saying the Central government should have shown "minimum respect" to the veteran leader.

"Suddenly all political leaders have become thieves! Chidambaram is being sent to Tihar Jail. What is going on?" Banerjee told the state assembly while participating in a discussion on the National Register for Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

"We don't know whether Chidambaram is an accused or not. I don't know what is there in the case. The law will take its own course. But how can we forget he was our Finance and Home Minister?

"They should have shown minimum respect to him," she said.

Banerjee said former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is often criticised for imposing the Emergency in 1975, "but I don't know what to term the present situation? Is this emergency or fascism?"

The Supreme Court on Thursday sent Chidambaram to 14 days' judicial custody in the INX Media case. He is lodged in jail number-7 of Tihar Jail, which is meant for economic offenders.

Earlier, after Chidambaram was arrested on August 21, amid dramatic scenes with some Central Bureau of Investigation officials scaling the walls to gain entry into his house, Banerjee had called the handling of the matter "very depressing."