NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP during an Eid-ul-Fitr event in Kolkata. She said she stands with people of all castes, communities, and creeds, while accusing the saffron party of attempting to curtail citizens’ rights through SIR.Speaking after Eid prayers at Red Road, Banerjee alleged that SIR is part of a larger effort to influence the electoral process in West Bengal. She claimed that names of voters had been deleted under the exercise and said she had taken the matter from Kolkata to Delhi, approaching both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court. “I hope that people’s rights are safeguarded,” she added.
“Those who are targeting Bengal and trying to divide people should go to hell,” the West Bengal CM said, as quoted by news agency PTI.Her remarks come amid a growing political row over the electoral roll scrutiny exercise, which the TMC has repeatedly called an attempt to remove names of genuine voters, especially from minority-dominated areas, ahead of the assembly elections.The chief minister referred to Bengal’s long-standing tradition of communal harmony, saying the state would not allow attempts to divide society to succeed.“Bengal believes in unity. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, everyone lives together here. We will not allow anyone to break this social fabric,” Mamta said.“I stand with everyone in Bengal, with all castes, communities, and creeds. I will continue this fight. We will not let Modi ji snatch away our rights,” she added.Mamta also accused the Centre of trying to control the state government. “You are trying to forcibly control our government, you want to impose President’s rule. She added that she won’t be scared: “Jo darte hain, wo marte hain (those who are afraid are finished). Jo ladte hain, wo zindagi mein kamyab hote hain (those who fight succeed in life).” Elections for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.On Friday, TMC also approached the Calcutta High Court, challenging the transfer of several IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal by the Election Commission of India after the announcement of assembly polls.
