Chennai : Opposition DMK, part of the Mahagathbhandan being put together by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday lashed out against centre for its attack on federal structure of the country with action against a top police official of state government there.

Within the moment of CBI officials landing at the residential premises of Kolkata police commissioner, Mamata Banerjee rushed to the spot, got the CBI officials removed and put under detention on Sunday evening and then sat on an indefinite dharna against what she called the unconstitutional action of the central government that she described as an assault against democracy.

DMK president MK Stalin and his sister Kanimozi, Rajya Sabha MP, extended support to the protest by Mamata Banerjee. In a tweet Kanimozhi said: “Anyone who cares for Democracy, Federalism and Constitution must stand with Ms @MamataOfficial.”

Stalin had on Sunday itself castigated the centre and the BJP for destroying institutions of the country. He too tweeted, “The independence of every institution has been compromised under this fascist BJP Government. I stand with @MamataOfficial Didi in her fight to protect the federal structure of this country and to save democracy.”

Banerjee charged the centre with attempts to destabilise her government on the eve of elections. She said that she had heard that the centre was about to dislodge the government as it would not be easy to beat the TMC. “Let them do it, then all the 42 seats will be swept by Mamata Banerjee,” said a political analyst.

Another said that this predatory move by the BJP will only do what the opposition parties were themselves not able to achieve – unity.

Within minutes of the developments in Kolkata, all the opposition parties from across the country came out in full support.

She continued with her dharna and even held a cabinet meeting at the protest site. She also held a facebook chat with some members of the farming community.