Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee on Monday hit back forcefully at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charge that the opposition was turning Parliament into a stage for "drama," asserting that demanding accountability on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and other governance issues cannot be dismissed as theatrics.
Banerjee’s remarks came hours after the Prime Minister, speaking to reporters outside Parliament ahead of the winter session, said the House was "not a place for drama but for delivery," describing the opposition's conduct as a "warm-up arena" for elections and even offering to give them "tips to bring positivity in politics."
Responding sharply, Banerjee said the opposition had only sought a formal debate on the SIR exercise, which he claimed had already led to "around 40 deaths, including BLOs," because of alleged procedural lapses.
"What the opposition is asking for is a debate on SIR. Is that drama? If raising people's voice is drama, then the people will give them a reply in the next election," the TMC national general secretary warned.
Blaming the Election Commission (EC) for what he called an "unplanned and glitch-ridden" revision process, the TMC MP said Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were neither trained nor equipped to handle the workload.
"The EC never trained the BLOs. Forty people have died because of unplanned SIR process. During demonetisation, people stood in queues. But the black money flow has increased. Where is the accountability?"
We wonder where is national security. "Blasts are happening, and terrorists are entering the country. Again, where is the accountability?"
Referring to alleged lapses during the Pahalgam terror attack, he alleged the government could not selectively decide what constitutes legitimate scrutiny.
The Diamond Harbour MP insisted that the opposition was functioning "within the legal framework" by questioning the government and the poll panel. "Just because they have won a few states doesn't mean they are not answerable to the people. The same people will remove them from power," he stated.
Reiterating a long-running charge, Banerjee alleged that the Centre had withheld Bengal's financial entitlements, claiming: "They have blocked ₹2 lakh crore of Bengal." Stressing that accountability "cannot be optional in a democracy," the TMC MP vowed the opposition would continue pressing for answers inside and outside Parliament.
Also read: 'Touch Bengal, I’ll shake nation’: Mamata to BJP over SIR row
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