Maynaguri (WB), Mar 25 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, the Centre and the Election Commission, accusing them of misusing Constitutional institutions to undermine democracy.
Addressing an election rally in North Bengal’s Maynaguri, she alleged the BJP-led Centre and the Election Commission were “snatching voting rights” and warned the next step could be attempts to snatch away citizenship by imposing NRC.
Banerjee also alleged that certain communities were being excluded from the poll processes through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“Rajbanshis names have been removed through SIR. Women’s names are also being removed. If deaths occur because of SIR, who will take responsibility?” she posed.
The Trinamool Congress supremo said, “The EC, BJP and the Centre are not following the Constitution and are trying to snatch away voting rights. Today, they are snatching away voting rights; tomorrow, they will snatch away citizenship by bringing the NRC.
Without naming Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Banerjee urged the gathering to “bid farewell to this gentleman here and the two gentlemen in Delhi”.
The chief minister alleged that the ruling TMC was being deprived of powers, but insisted that her biggest strength was the people of the state.
“They have taken everything away from me. All I have in my hands now are the people,” she said, while also attacking the BJP and the Election Commission for allegedly working in tandem.
Earlier in the day, Banerjee made similar allegations at the Kolkata airport before leaving for north Bengal, referring to a six-year-old Election Commission document that allegedly carried the BJP’s lotus symbol.
“Why are you playing from behind? Come and fight openly,” she said.
Banerjee further said she had asked her party candidates to take lawyers with them while filing nomination papers, alleging that nominations had been cancelled in BJP-ruled Assam.
“I will ask our candidates to take lawyers along while filing nominations. In Assam, several nominations have been cancelled. I do not have faith in the BJP and the Election Commission,” she said. PTI PNT NSD
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