Hitting out against the Election Commission for preventing politicians from reaching violence-hit Cooch Behar in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the BJP could use all its might, but nothing in the world could stop her from being with her people. "EC should rename MCC as Modi Code of Conduct. BJP can use all its might, but nothing in this world can stop me from being with my people and sharing their pain. They can restrict me from visiting my brothers and sisters in Cooch Behar for three days, but I will be there on the fourth day," said Banerjee.
EC should rename MCC as Modi Code of Conduct!
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 11, 2021
BJP can use all its might but NOTHING in this world can stop me from being with my people & sharing their pain.
They can restrict me from visiting my brothers & sisters in Cooch Behar for 3 days but I WILL be there on the 4th day!
West Bengal had plunged into chaos on Saturday when five people were killed, including four in CISF firing, during the fourth phase of polling, pushing the Election Commission to bar entry of political leaders from outside in the troubled Cooch Behar district for the next 72 hours. The deaths, all in Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi, set off a political firestorm in the politically volatile state, with the ruling TMC and challenger BJP blaming each other for the violence, the worst since the assembly polls got underway.
It also barred the entry of politicians in Cooch Behar district for the next 72 hours to prevent any possible law and order flare-up.
A total of 45 seats will go to polls in the fifth phase in West Bengal. The order also said that in Cooch Behar, comprising nine assembly constituencies (AC numbers 1 to 9) where voting will be over by Saturday, no political leader from any national, state or other party should be allowed to enter the geographical boundaries of the district for the next 72 hours. "This comes into force with immediate effect," the poll panel said.
The commission said it is issuing the order using its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution of India. It also cited some Supreme Court rulings to support its decision to use constitutional powers. The order also cited a joint report of its two special observers Ajay Nayak and Vivek Dube.
The report said that recourse to open fire by the CISF personnel became "absolutely necessary" in order to save the lives of the voters lined up at the polling booth, those of other polling personnel and their own lives as the mob had attempted snatching their weapons also.
The order also said the special observers had not received the reports of district magistrate and the superintendent of police (SP) of Cooch Behar well after 5 pm though TV channels had been quoting the SP as saying since 3pm that the CISF men opened fire "purely" in self defence.
-Inputs from PTI
