West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the BJP tried to get her candidature canceled from South Kolkata’s Bhabanipur seat by filing two false cases against her, but the attempt was foiled by TMC workers and the public.
Addressing an election rally at Keshiyari in Paschim Medinipur district, Banerjee accused the BJP of “forcefully” removing names of 90 lakh voters from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
“The BJP, with the help of the Election Commission, tried to invalidate my candidature from Bhabanipur yesterday by filing two false affidavits against me, but we foiled their plan,” said Banerjee, who is contesting to retain her seat against leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, without elaborating further.
He accused the BJP of “conspiring to forcibly gain votes through fraud” as they do not have the courage to contest and win elections democratically.
“That’s why they are erasing the names of voters. They are also planning to rig the results in their favor by rigging the EVMs,” he said.
He described a senior Election Commission official as “the main washing machine of the BJP”. The Chief Minister said that after the BJP’s crushing defeat in the Assembly elections and subsequent ouster from power in Delhi, justice will definitely be served.
He said, “More than 250 people have died due to the SIR process. Of the 90 lakh voters removed, 60 lakh are Hindus while 30 lakh are Muslims…Are we not Indians because we speak Bengali? Do we need to constantly prove our citizenship?”
Banerjee further said, “SIR is a big scam which will be proved one day.”
On BJP’s promise to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) if it comes to power in West Bengal, Banerjee said that through UCC the saffron party wants to impose its diktat on the people.
He said, “They have promised the UCC that they will take away your right to practice your religious faith and perform rituals according to customs and traditions. By bringing in the UCC they want to ensure that all religious practices are equal.”
He said, “UCC means one BJP, one rule. When we are busy with elections, why are you bringing such bills in Parliament? We will repeal such draconian bills after we lose power in Delhi.” He further said, “We will not allow these to be implemented in West Bengal.”
Accusing the BJP of hatching a conspiracy to rig EVMs, he said, “They do not want free and fair elections. On the day of counting, they will try to declare the results of those seats first where the BJP is ahead, while the counting of seats where TMC is leading will be done at a slow pace.”
He further said, “After that they will switch off the electricity and tamper with the people’s mandate. Do not give the BJP any slack. Check the EVMs thoroughly.”
At another rally in Jhargram, Banerjee alleged efforts to channelize black money during the elections.
He asked, “During elections they talk about giving 33 percent reservation for women, but what is the representation of women in their own party? Why did they not keep this promise earlier?”
He claimed that TMC has ensured more than 37 per cent representation for women, and in many areas their participation is up to 50 per cent.
Without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said that they visit the state only during elections.
He said, “They are like migratory birds. Why do they disappear during natural disasters?”
Accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation regarding the safety of women in Bengal, she said, “What happened to the women wrestlers? What happened in Unnao and Hathras?”
Expressing fear of BJP bringing people from Jharkhand on the day of voting, Banerjee asked party workers to remain alert at railway stations and bus terminals.
He also alleged that officers familiar with the local areas have been transferred and replaced by outsiders to “help the BJP”.
Alleging restrictions on eating meat, fish and eggs in BJP-ruled states, he said, “Who gave them the right to impose their diktat on our eating habits?”
He further alleged that the BJP’s “real agenda” behind the delimitations was to send people to detention camps.
Banerjee said, “They are threatening everyone. About 500 administrative officers have been transferred from Bengal, but this has not delayed any of our social welfare projects.”