EC trying to save face, shouted at us: Mamata Banerjee trashes poll panel's defence
Mamata Banerjee's remarks came a day after the Election Commission categorically rejected her allegations, denying any mistreatment during the 90-minute meeting with CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the conduct of SIR exercise in the state.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday stood firm on her claim that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and other Election Commission officials threatened and shouted at her and the Trinamool Congress delegation. Her remarks came a day after the Election Commission categorically rejected her allegations, denying any mistreatment during the 90-minute meeting.
"You don’t believe the Election Commission’s version because you were not there. Their version is a face-saving one. I asked multiple questions, but the CEC humiliated us, threatened us, and shouted at us," Mamata Banerjee said while speaking to reporters, reiterating her stance.
According to the poll body, CEC Kumar answered Mamata Banerjee’s queries and listened to her patiently, contrary to what was presented by the West Bengal Chief Minister.
The poll panel further clarified that it had communicated to the West Bengal Chief Minister that no force should be used against ground workers involved in the SIR work in the state.
Mamata Banerjee, while addressing the press conference, further claimed that the Election Commission was targeting her party’s voter base while leaving out voters of other parties.
"ECI is targeting 100% TMC voter deletions, only 1-2% other party voters being deleted," she said.
Despite the Election Commission’s rebuttal, the standoff between Mamata Banerjee and the poll body has escalated beyond Delhi -- where she is currently present -- to the Supreme Court. According to sources, the Trinamool Congress chief is expected to appear before the top court if it takes up the plea challenging the SIR on Wednesday.
Standing firm on her stance, Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a press conference in Delhi, said, “I told him not to shout at us. We are not bonded labourers. We brought flowers and sweets for them, but the way they behaved with us, we boycotted the meeting.”
On Monday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission after a nearly 90-minute meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging large-scale deletion of voters’ names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and accusing the poll panel of functioning at the behest of the BJP.
Coming out of the meeting, Banerjee told reporters that voters’ claims were being cancelled over minor spelling variations and title changes common in Bengal. “They first removed people’s names. The Election Commissioner is the BJP’s IT cell. You say this is a democracy?” she said.