KOLKATA: The Election Commission has issued a second notice to Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, this one for her comments asking voters — particularly women — to “restrain” central forces if the latter “create disturbances”.
The EC found Banerjee’s comments — made during election speeches in Cooch Behar on March 28 and April 7 — “prima facie... in violation” of the model of conduct in place for the ongoing poll as well as some IPC sections. The poll panel has given Banerjee time till 11 am on Saturday to respond.
The first EC notice to Banerjee came on Wednesday for her comments in Tarakeswar last weekend, asking “minority voters” to ensure their votes were not split. Banerjee has not yet responded to the first notice. But she has said in her election speeches that she will not be intimidated by these notices and will go on urging people not to vote on the basis of religion.
Banerjee and her party have also questioned the EC’s neutrality and asked how many notices it has sent to PM Modi. The Trinamool has also questioned why most BJP leaders have not got EC notices despite making communal speeches.
The latest EC notice is based on the state chief electoral officer’s report and authorised transcripts of a speech Banerjee delivered in Cooch Behar on April 7, where she is heard telling women voters to “restrain (gherao) CAPF (personnel) if they create disturbances”.
One group should be doing this while another group should go and vote, Banerjee said. “Don’t waste your vote. They will be happy if you do not cast your vote. This is their plan. It is the BJP’s plan. Talking to them (CAPF personnel) will be tantamount to restraining them. You don’t have to gherao them literally,” she added.
The EC letter accused the Bengal CM of of making “prima facie, completely false, provocative and intemperate statements... to berate and vilify central paramilitary forces during the electoral process” that caused “extreme demoralisation among these forces”. “They have made a commendable contribution, especially in ensuring area-domination and deterring anti-social hooligans, to conduct free and fair polls,” the letter added.
“Far more discouraging is the fact that she has been trying to make an emotional pitch to women voters to incite them to attack central force personnel. It is extremely unfortunate that political battles are fought in this manner,” the EC wrote.
The EC is also scanning a March 28 speech delivered by Banerjee. “There is no reason to be afraid of the police. Who gave so much power to them that the central police are threatening women... (and not) allowing them to cast their votes? I saw the same thing in 2019. I saw the same thing in 2016,” the EC quoted the Bengal CM as saying.
“Women of Bhagabanpur (in East Midnapore) returned with tears,” Banerjee reportedly said, telling CAPF personnel to “remember that you did not let blind voters cast their votes”. “You did not let many mothers and sisters cast their votes. You targeted women. It is not the central police’s business but still they denied entry to voters for not wearing masks,” the EC notice quoted Banerjee. The EC also said she had exhorted women to “attack central forces with ladles and kitchen spuds” if they “suffered a a single stroke of the baton”.
The EC also mentioned that a Trinamool delegation had, in February, accused the Border Security Force of intimidating villagers to vote in favour of a particular political party. Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora, however, had rubbished the Trinamool allegations.