West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken a jibe at the Election Commission alleging that it is removing “legitimate voters” by using “black magic”. Launching a scathing attack on the commission, CM Mamata said that if Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore was alive today, the commission would probably have sent him a notice too!
Millions of names have been dropped from the draft list of the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in West Bengal. Millions of people across the state are waiting in long queues for the hearings. There are also allegations of citizens dying due to the anxiety caused by the SIR process, including recent instances of Booth Level Officers (BLO) deaths in the state.
The Chief Minister on Tuesday expressed her anger and strongly criticised the Election Commission over all these issues. At a press conference from her administrative headquarter Nabanna on Tuesday, Mamata questioned, “Where did the names of 54 lakh people disappear? Who are the people whose names have been removed from the list?”
If Rabindranath Tagore was alive, EC would have summoned him too: Mamata Banerjee
Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen was recently summoned for the SIR hearing. This news caused a stir a few days ago. The Chief Minister had already expressed her displeasure on this matter. Referring to this, Mamata sarcastically remarked that if Rabindranath Tagore were alive, ECI would probably send him a notice too! Mamata again targeted the Election Commission and the BJP, alleging conspiracy in the SIR process. The Chief Minister questioned, “The Commission is not disclosing whose names have been removed or who is on the list. Why?” she alleged.
The CM alleged that legitimate voters are being selectively removed from the list. Mamata said, “They say the ERO (Electoral Registration Officer) removed the names of the 54 lakh people. But the ERO doesn’t know anything about it. Those whose names were deleted in the first phase have the right to fill out Forms 6 and 7. The data of the 54 lakh people whose names have been removed has not been given to anyone.”
“Duryodhana and Dushasana you cannot conquer Bengal this way!”: Mamata Banerjee
The Chief Minister further said, “All government certificates are being cancelled in Bengal. By whose order? This didn’t happen in Bihar. Duryodhana and Dushasana, you cannot conquer Bengal this way! If you have the power, fight fairly. You are looting Bengal. You are lying.”
Expressing concern that the SIR process might deprive genuine voters of Bengal from their rights, Mamata said, “I hope the names of genuine voters will not be excluded. In Bihar, you released the final list and then announced the election date. Inaugurations take place when elections are near. After the elections, everything is over. What are you inaugurating?”
Mamata Banerjee further said, “I want the Matua community to vote. For this, they should not have to write that they came from Bangladesh. And that CAA has no value. I would suggest the Matua community to go to the BLO’s office and register their names.”
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