BJP files complaint against Mamata Banerjee with Election Commission over threats
Kolkata, Mar 31: Accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of issuing threats to its supporters in her rallies, BJP has registered a complaint with the Election Commission over comments made by her.
In its letter to the poll panel, BJP on Tuesday alleged, despite "pro-active" role of the commission, "large- scale violence" has been reported during past several days due to such utterances by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief.
To back up its claim, the letter mentioned a widely circulated video of a meeting addressed by Banerjee at Nandigram on March 29. "In the meeting she said the central paramilitary forces will go one day, but she will stay in Bengal. Who will then save her rivals," the letter quoted Banerjee as saying.
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Raising objection to the TMC supremo's remarks, the letter signed by BJP leaders Shishir Bajoria, Arjun Singh and Pratap Banerjee said, "Such statements are threat to free, fair and peaceful elections ... and have been brought to the notice of the commission."
The
saffron
party
also
described
the
speech
as
a
violation
of
the
model
code
of
conduct
that
urges
political
parties
to
avoid
offences
such
as
intimidation
of
voters.
"Threatening
and
criminal
intimidation
is
not
only
an
abuse
of
free
and
fair
polls
but
also
a
criminal
act
as
well
as
an
electoral
offence
which
needs
strong
and
immediate
check,"
the
BJP
said.
Referring to the video clip, the letter alleged that the Trinamool Congress dispensation has failed to prevent incidents of violence such as attack on voters, stopping polling agents from entering polling stations, targeting BJP workers in the run up to polls and on the voting day.