A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee moved the Supreme Court (SC) against the Election Commission(EC) and West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), there was an uproar in Delhi on Monday as Delhi Police were seen surrounding the old and new Banga Bhavan and another guest house in the morning. These housed Trinamool Congress(TMC) MPs, victims of families who died due to fear of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and people whose names are in the dead voter’s list despite being alive in West Bengal.
“When you (BJP) come to Bengal, we give you a red carpet, and when we come to Delhi, you give us a black carpet. We will show you the black result. Please restrain yourself from the atrocities, from the torture of the Bengal people who have lost their lives,” said Banerjee.
The families staying at the old and new Banga Bhavan and the other guest house had travelled to Delhi as part of the 15-member delegation to meet Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee, over the alleged flaws in the SIR process.
TMC MPs were seen asking Delhi Police why they were blocking the gate of Banga Bhavan and parking cars outside the premises. Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee reached Banga Bhavan to speak to the police and assure families staying at the guest house that they have nothing to worry.
Mamata said she has written five letters to the CEC over various issues pertaining to SIR, including deaths due to fear of the voter revision exercise, but received no reply.
“I have not come here to hold any agitation. Don’t threaten my people. Will they live on the streets,” she asked the Delhi police, adding, “I have been a Central minister. I remember Delhi. But I have never seen such atrocities.”
After the meeting with CEC, which lasted over one hour, Mamata alleged she and her delegation were disrespected as their queries were not heard and accused Kumar of working for the BJP.“They have humiliated us; they did not reply to us properly, which is why we boycotted the meeting and walked away.”
The TMC chief sought to know why the EC had appointed so many special observers for West Bengal, alleging that her state was being targeted. She claimed that the SIR process is “totally unparliamentary, undemocratic”
“They (the BJP and the EC) have captured our government six months before the elections. They are not allowing us to work. We are being targeted. I will not allow this,” she said, alleging that the EC is responsible for the SIR related deaths in her state. “So many people have died. Who is responsible? The Election Commission has to take the responsibility.”
Meanwhile, a 14-member delegation led by the leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari met the West Bengal governor in Kolkata over the law and order situation at hearing centres in the state. Adhikari said he has written three letters to Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and requested a meeting on Monday, but was given a date for February 6.
Adhikari hit out at Mamata for preventing the Delhi police from doing their duty. “In a high-profile area like Delhi, Mamata should not instigate the Delhi Police and should assist them.” Added Adhikari.