'Why SIR In West Bengal Prior To Assembly Polls?' Asks Mamata Banerjee In Delhi
'Why SIR In West Bengal Prior To Assembly Polls?' Asks Mamata Banerjee In Delhi
M.U.H
04/02/202614
New Delhi: Stepping up her attack on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), West Bengal Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) chairperson, Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday questioned the Election Comission of India (ECI) as to why the exercise is being conducted in the state prior to the Assembly polls.
Addressing a press conference at Banga Bhawan here, the TMC supremo while referring to the SIR in West Bengal, said, "I have written six letters to Election Commission. But, no reply. Our delegation met so many times. But, no result. Even the verdict given by the Highest Court is not being honoured. So, when there was no way left out..."
"In the year 2002, the SIR cases was registered and processed in West Bengal. After that 24 years, why on the eve of election it is being carried out ? In February possibly they will announce the notification. Within two to three months without planning without mapping , without proper training , without proper infrastructure, the SIR is carried put," she said.
Referring to the Assembly elections in different states, she said, "There are four election-bound states West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam. They are only doing it in three Opposition state, not in Assam because this is double engine state."
"In first phase , they deleted 58 lakhs names, even they have not given any opportunity to the victims who are the people to defend themselves. People who are alive, they were declared dead," Banerjee said.
Referring to the appointment of the Electoral Roll Observers in the state, she said, "The Electoral Roll Observers have no roll to play as per the Representation of the People's Act. They are being deputed backdoor from the BJP and front door from the Election Commission."
In an veiled attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the West Bengal CM said, "I respect the Chair. But, here somebody works only for his master's voice and don't maintain the institution impartially, vindictively they delete the name of the people."
She asked why the SIR was not being conducted in non-BJP states and also questioned why action should not be taken against the ECI over the exercise-related deaths.
She alleged that the EC is acting as "BJP cadres". "We expect respect not disrespect from EC," , she said at a press conference along with the SIR-affected families in Banga Bhawan in Delhi.
Banerjee, who arrived in Delhi after filing a plea in the Supreme Court against the EC over Special Intensive Revision (SIR), said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar not only rudely behaved with her yesterday but also alleged that it was motivated and directed from "somewhere else" to misbehave with her.
Complaining that the EC has not released pending funds of 2024 to the state till now, Banerjee asked why EC was not giving money to the SIR-affected families. She said many people had left behind notes holding EC responsible before taking their lives so why should the EC not take responsibility for these deaths. She also asked the members of the SIR-affected families whether they want FIRs be lodged against the EC and they nodded in unison.
Deliberating on the harassment faced by votes due to the SIR, Banerjee claimed there are several instances where people fell ill and had to be hospitalised after standing in queues for long hours. "Several names were deleted during the SIR and they were not given any chance to register themselves", she said.
Abhishek Banerjee, CM's nephew and TMC MP, said he has evidence to prove how 140 crore people are being misled in the name of SIR. He said they are not against SIR but against its hasty implementation. "We would not have objected if SIR was conducted after training BLOs and in a proper manner over six months or more and not rushed," he said.
Replying to a question on her party's position in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, Banerjee said, "I'm not an astrologer but this time we will get more and more seats."
