West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “biggest infiltrator” and reiterated her criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government in connection with the special intensive revision of voter rolls, PTI reported.
The Trinamool Congress chief, addressing worshippers after Eid prayers at Kolkata's Red Road, said she would not allow Modi and the BJP to take away citizens’ voting rights.
“When you [Modi] go abroad, you shake hands with leaders and speak of friendship,” Banerjee said, according to PTI. “That is your choice, and I respect all countries. But when you return to India, suddenly the Hindu-Muslim narrative begins, and people are called infiltrators.”
Referring to the BJP’s allegations about undocumented immigration taking place in West Bengal, Banerjee said: “You then call for deleting names and labelling people as infiltrators. I would say you and your government are the biggest infiltrators.”
Ahead of the Assembly elections slated for next month, the Trinamool Congress has been alleging that the special intensive revision exercise has resulted in the removal of several genuine voters, especially from minority communities, from the state’s electoral rolls.
The Election Commission published the updated voter list for West Bengal on February 28 as part of the exercise. It said that the names of 5.46 lakh persons have been deleted from the electoral rolls, while a total of 60,06,675 “doubtful and pending” cases have been marked as “under adjudication”.
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On Saturday as well, Banerjee noted that the names of many people had been deleted from West Bengal’s voter list.
“For this, I have approached the Calcutta High Court, Delhi, and even the Supreme Court,” she told the gathering at Red Road, according to The Indian Express. “I still hope that people’s rights will be protected. Even if no one stands with you, I will stand by the people of Bengal – across all religions, castes, and creed – as a member of your own family.”
Banerjee alleged that the BJP was trying to “capture the government” in the state, but said that her party would “not be afraid”, The Indian Express reported. “They [BJP] have removed everyone and plan to place BJP leaders in those positions. This is a party of thieves, robbers, and goons – a party of ‘gaddars’ [traitors],” she said.
The chief minister was further quoted as alleging: “There are also some traitors who have started taking money from the BJP to split votes. But I would say that ultimately, whatever the Almighty wills is what will happen, and nothing beyond that.”
The West Bengal elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The results will be announced on May 4.
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