Bengal vs. Central Agencies: A Decade of Clashes and the I-PAC Raid Pattern

• West Bengal has a decade-long history of confrontations between its state government and Central agencies like CBI and ED.
• The recent I-PAC raid in Kolkata, targeting the firm providing political consultancy to TMC, is the latest flashpoint.
• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused ED of political motivation, attempting to seize TMC's election strategy documents.
• Past incidents include the 2019 Rajeev Kumar-CBI standoff, 2021 Narada arrests, and the ongoing SSC recruitment scam probe.
• The Sandeshkhali incident in 2024 saw ED officers attacked, highlighting operational challenges in politically sensitive regions.

Why It Matters: West Bengal's recurring clashes with central agencies reveal a deep-seated pattern of mistrust and political friction.