BJP approaches Election Commission over Mamata Banerjee's 'gherao CRPF' remark

Kolkata, Apr 08: The BJP on Thursday, moved the Election Commission (EC) against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's comment allegedly asking to 'gherao CRPF jawans'. BJP said the statement was 'anti-national' and asked the EC to bar Banerjee from campaigning anymore.

"The 'BJP's CRPF' is beating women, harassing and killing people. They are obstructing voters from entering polling booths and casting their votes. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has instructed them to do so. I have never given such orders to the police being the home minister (of West Bengal)," Banerjee had said at a rally in West Bengal on Wednesday.

"Do not trust the police because during the elections they have been influenced by the BJP. If needed form groups and gherao them and keep them busy in talking, while others will quickly go and cast their votes," she had further said. This is not the first time that the TMC chief has attacked central security forces, alleging meddling in elections.

Previously, she had slammed Home Minister Amit Shah for 'using security agencies' for the BJP. The charge had received a veiled response from the BJP.

Meanwhile, in yet another incident of feud between the TMC and the BJP, workers of the two parties clashed in South 24 Parganas. Several vehicles were reportedly set ablaze.

West Bengal is now the only state left to face the ballot in the ongoing Assembly elections in five states. While the most closely watched contest between CM Banerjee and BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram is already over, the two parties have been campaigning to win the battle for the 294-seater Assembly.

While the BJP has claimed that it will bag more than 200 seats and oust the TMC government in the state, TMC has predicted that the BJP will not be able to cross the two-digit mark in the 294-seater Assembly.