Just a day after The Election Commission of India (ECI) took action in a case of alleged voter fraud in West Bengal, ordering the suspension of five officers and an FIR against them, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, she will protect all state government officers and will go any extent to save them.

What is the allegation?

The allegations against those officers include the fraudulent registration of 127 voters using forged documents across two assembly constituencies. Those suspended include two West Bengal Civil Service officers serving as Electoral Registration Officers, and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers from the Baruipur Purba and Moyna assembly constituencies. A data entry operator has also been named in the FIR, which alleges criminal misconduct.

The ECI’s investigation was prompted by a report from the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, highlighting alleged irregularities. Following the report, the ECI wrote to the state’s Chief Secretary, directing immediate action.

What Mamata said?

Chief Minister said at Jhargram on Wednesday. “Government workers are being intimidated. Two officers were served suspension notices yesterday. Have the elections even been announced yet? Which law allows them to be suspended at this stage? It is our responsibility to protect you all. We will do that.”

She then added, “They have started suspending people even though a long time is left before elections. They [ECI] are the bonded labour of BJP. They are doing the “dalali” of Amit Shah. The HM thinks whatever he says will happen.”

Mamata challenged Amit Shah

On Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee challenged Union Home minister Amit Shah and asked him to show his parents birth certificate. She said, “They (ECI) are asking for the birth certificates of people’s parents – where will they get those from? I want to ask today: Amit Shah, do you have your parents’ birth certificates? Show that first! Then talk about removing people’s names from the voter list. When BJP leaders come here, we will hit the streets and protest. They held a meeting and said SIR will be implemented. They cannot do anything.”

She also attacked ECI, saying, “They have included names from Haryana and Gujarat – what kind of conspiracy is this? The conspiracy of implementing NRC through the backdoor will not be tolerated. We will not give up an inch of land without a fight. How dare they serve NRC notices to people here? Do not respond to those notices. Live here in Bengal peacefully.”

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