BJP slams Mamata over SIR remarks, accuses her of issuing riot threats

BJP criticises Mamata Banerjee for threatening “riots and violence” over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The EC assured no valid voters will be removed, dismissing TMC’s concerns ahead of Assembly elections

New Delhi: The BJP on Friday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, accusing her of threatening “riots and violence” in her State if the Election Commission starts the process.

This came a day after Banerjee launched a blistering attack on the poll panel, alleging that its officials were “threatening” officers of her government and “acting under political influence” even before the announcement of Assembly poll dates. She also asserted that the BJP was “playing with fire” in the name of the revision of electoral rolls, and warned that any attempt to tamper with the voter list would tantamount to “betrayal of democracy”.

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Reacting sharply, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the way Banerjee commented on the SIR is shocking and a matter of concern.

“She said if Special Intensive Revision is conducted, there will be riots and several other consequences in Bengal which will be horrifying… This means Mamata ji is threatening that if a constitutional process starts in Bengal, she will engineer riots and there will be terrible consequences,” the BJP MP told reporters here.

Patra termed Banerjee’s remarks “irresponsible” and asked her if she considers herself above the Constitution and can take law into her hands to go to the extent of “engineering riots and bloodshed” in the State for votes of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators who are not entitled to participate in the elections in India.

“Mamata Banerjee, it’s your arrogance that you consider yourself above the Constitution of India and the country’s judicial system. Remember, you can not be bigger than the Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution, no matter how many times you have served as a CM or PM,” he said.

Patra alleged that Banerjee has already started a riot in West Bengal with recent attacks on BJP leaders, including the party’s tribal MP Khagen Murmu.

“You have started the riot, we will stop it democratically. The TMC will lose and the BJP will win (in the assembly elections due next year),” he claimed.

Another BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi termed Banerjee’s remarks “dangerous” and said they raise questions on morality and constitutionality of the ruling TMC.

“The dangerous statement made by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee against the SIR process set by the Election Commission for ensuring a free, fair, transparent and healthy elections, indicates a direct incitement to violence,” the Rajya Sabha member said.

Trivedi said Mamata’s stand against special intensive revision shows how people in politics turn away from their core ideas and indulge in “politics of compromise” even on a serious issue like national security which he termed as “extremely dangerous” for the country.

“How is it possible that the chief minister of a state, where law and order is the state subject, would herself threaten the electoral process in this manner,” he asked.

He also asked Banerjee if she was not the same person who once threw a file before the Lok Sabha Speaker on the issue of infiltrators in the past because a discussion on the issue was not being allowed in the Lower House of Parliament.

“In the past, the courts have made harsh comments on the way the West Bengal government has patronised the violence. In such a situation, if the chief minister herself makes such statements, it is extremely serious and worrying. If the Constitution is in danger, it is because of this kind of thinking,” the BJP leader added.

The EC on Thursday asserted that no valid voter’s name will be deleted from the electoral rolls during the special intensive revision in West Bengal, dismissing apprehensions expressed by the TMC.

The assurance was given by CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal after a high-level meeting on voter list revision held at Kolaghat in Purba Medinipur district, where a four-member central delegation, including Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, reviewed the preparations for the special intensive revision.