West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised the Election Commission for “favouring” the Bharatiya Janata Party and threatened to go on a hunger strike outside the Commission if there is a single riot in the state.
While addressing a rally at Alipurduar, Banerjee accused the Election Commission of removing the Deputy Inspector General of Police of Murshidabad at the behest of the BJP.
“Even today, just based on BJP’s instructions, the DIG of Murshidabad was changed. Now, if there are riots in Murshidabad and Malda, the responsibility will lie with the Election Commission. The BJP wanted to change the police officers to trigger riots and violence. If there is even one riot, the ECI will be responsible as they are looking after law and order here,” she said.
“If I can fast for farmers for 26 days (during anti-land acquisition protests in Singur), I can go on a hunger strike for 55 days outside your office as well,” TMC supremo said.
“I will see how many jails you have.… I know how to fight. I am not a coward,” she said.
Banerjee dared the Income Tax officials to check the chopper used by BJP leaders for election campaign, a day after a row erupted over the TMC’s claim of a “raid” by Income Tax officials targeting a helicopter used by party leader Abhishek Banerjee.
Sources in the IT department said it received an alert from the air traffic control (ATC) about the chopper taking off for Haldia.
Accordingly, a quick response team, set up for the election, was sent for a search. Sunday’s incident was no typical raid under Section 30 of the IT Act, insiders said.
“The ATC asked the EC to inform central agencies about any aircraft or copter taking off from or landing on any airstrip during poll time,” said a IT source official.
“Sunday’s incident can be called a verification on the alert.... Raids or searches are elaborate affairs,” the official added.
The Trinamool Congress on Sunday said its general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s helicopter was raided by Income Tax officials at Kolkata’s Behala flying club and alleged this was part of a deliberate ploy by the BJP to harass and intimidate opposition candidates whom they cannot engage with politically.
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