EC seeks report on Mamata’s ‘provocative’ remark from CEO | India News
New Delhi: Election Commission West Bengal has sought a report from the Chief Electoral Officer on the Chief Minister’s recent speech on Friday Mamata Banerjee At a public meeting in Naxalbari, Darjeeling, local women were allegedly instigated to stay at polling booths and use household kitchen items to meet “exigent circumstances”.Her statement is seen as an incitement of TMC women workers and supporters to attack polling stations in rural areas, posing a risk to the Central Armed Police Force deployed there, as they face criminal charges for intervening and stopping them. If so, whether action is appropriate for violation of Model Code and other laws including BNS and RP Act.In video footage of her public meeting in Naxalbari on Wednesday, Mamata can be heard saying, “The women of West Bengal have to take special measures to protect polling stations from polling day morning. If you want peace in West Bengal for five years, you have to protect booths for one day and prevent outsiders from rigging elections. Come out with whatever you have at home”.Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged against the accused in connection with the violence that took place at Basanti Bazaar in Baruipur police district on Thursday, in which several people, including police personnel, were injured. The accused have been arrested.The EC had earlier suspended Basanti PS in-charge inspector Abhijit Paul for failing to provide adequate police measures despite prior information about public programs of the two political parties. Further, CAPFs were made available over the past few days. Despite this he did not requisition the CAPF. “This reflects gross negligence and dereliction of duty on his part,” observed the EC.
