Mamata Blames EC For Failing To Protect Judicial Officers
Sagardighi (WB): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the Election Commission of “failing to protect” judicial officers participating in the SIR exercise in West Bengal’s Malda district and demanded the resignation of the Union Home Minister over the large-scale transfer of officers in the state.
Seven judicial officers posted in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) were rescued by security forces after protesters berated them for several hours on Wednesday over the deletion of their names from the electoral rolls.
Addressing an election rally in Murshidabad district, Banerjee said, “I condemn the Election Commission for failing to protect judicial officers.” he said.
Claiming that the EC had appointed its own officers in civil and police administration after the assembly elections were announced in the state, Banerjee accused the poll panel of “complete failure to control law and order”.
Several civil servants, including the state chief secretary, home minister and director general of police (DGP), were replaced immediately after the Assembly polls were announced by the Election Commission.
Accusing Shah of orchestrating major changes in civil and police administration through the Election Commission, Banerjee demanded his resignation.
“Everything is Amit Shah’s conspiracy, I demand the Home Minister’s resignation,” the TMC chief said.
“The Supreme Court has rightly said this,” Banerjee continued, referring to the apex court’s judgment on the gherao of seven judicial officers.
The Supreme Court on Thursday took serious note of seven judicial officers participating in the SIR exercise being taken “hostage” in Malda district, terming it deplorable and sought response from the home minister, DGP and other officials for their “inaction”.
This allowed the Election Commission to initiate a CBI or NIA investigation into the unfortunate incident.
The Prime Minister said, “All my powers were taken away from me, I have never seen such an Election Commission.”
Banerjee claimed that the BJP’s game plan was to cancel the assembly elections in Bengal and impose President’s rule.
“I do not know who perpetrated the incident that happened in Malda yesterday, but no one gave me any information,” she said, claiming that the new chief secretary has not called on her since taking charge.
The Chief Minister said that he came to know about the gherao of judicial officers from a journalist in the middle of the night.
“Remember, there is no shortage of traitors in your own circle as well,” he said at the TMC rally, to remind people of the battle of Plassey, where Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah was defeated by the British because he was backstabbed by traitors.
Pointing guns at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi without naming him, Banerjee said, “They brought in a Hyderabad leader who split Muslim votes in Bihar to help the BJP win.”
“They have the same plan here, which you (Muslims) do not understand,” he said.
“Wearing a Pagri (turban) does not make anyone a leader of a community,” Banerjee said. he said.
Making an indirect reference to the Babri Masjid-style mosque planned by newly formed AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, the TMC chief said one person can build ten mosques, but doing so during elections is an attempt to fool people.
“Go and do this in Uttar Pradesh, where the destruction took place, then I will know how brave I really am,” Banerjee said.
Claiming that the public’s complaint about deletion of names is “genuine”, Banerjee said that the state was insulted by the incident that took place in Malda on Wednesday.
“I want to fight peacefully for the people. I would never support those who resort to violence,” he said.
Stating that there are legal means to deal with the deletion of names from the voter list, she said that Wednesday’s incident of violent protest has “destroyed everything.”
“It seems no one is with me except people,” the TMC chief lamented.
“Law and order in the state is being labeled as bad because of one incident,” he said.
Urging Muslims to remain calm in the face of instigation, especially in the Muslim-majority Malda and Murshidabad districts, she said, “Tomorrow is Friday, do not do anything that may get you arrested by the CBI or the NIA.”
Claiming that the names of many minority voters have been deleted, she said that whatever remains will also go if they get arrested.
He alleged that the BJP had a game plan to delete names in the SIR application in Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur districts, where there is a significant Muslim population.
“1.2 crore names were deleted, so we moved the Supreme Court,” the TMC chief said.
He stated that after the decision process, 22 lakh names were entered in the voter rolls.
“We must fight peacefully,” she said, claiming that some concerned groups were instigating gherao against judicial officials and blocking of roads for hours.
Banerjee accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of planning to delete voters’ names while also launching NIA and CBI investigations in the TMC-ruled state.
