After Walking Out of Meeting, Mamata Banerjee Calls CEC a "Liar" and Seeks Impeachment
The TMC delegation also said the time given for SIR was too short
New Delhi: Alleging that the victims of special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were being denied the opportunity to defend themselves, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar had never replied to the issues raised by the Trinamul Congress (TMC) delegation during the Monday meeting and called for his impeachment.
Addressing a press conference here a day after the “not so pleasant” meeting with the CEC, Banerjee alleged that Kumar had a “threatening” approach. She accused the Election Commission of acting at the BJP's behest and claimed the TMC delegation was "insulted" during the Monday meeting with the CEC.
“We want him (the CEC) to be impeached. We don’t have the numbers… There is a provision for impeachment. At least, it will be recorded,” said Banerjee. She questioned the intent behind the conduct of the state in states just ahead of Assembly elections.
"People sitting behind us are all SIR victims,” she said, pointing to some persons at the press conference. “I could have brought lakhs of people here. They (the EC) are not giving an opportunity to SIR victims to defend themselves," said Banerjee.
Banerjee repeated her allegations against the Election Commission and the CEC and questioned the timing of the SIR. She also asked why the exercise was being conducted in only poll-bound states ruled by the Opposition and not in BJP-ruled Assam.
"Out of four election-bound states, they're doing SIR in three states and not in BJP-ruled Assam. Why is SIR being done on the eve of the election? Is it possible to do it within 2-3 months without any planning?" the Bengal CM asked. She will on Wednesday attend a hearing in the Supreme Court on this issue.
The West Bengal CM had led a TMC delegation to the CEC office on Monday. Sources said during the meeting, the CM raised her points regarding the ongoing SIR and alleged wrongful deletion of names, opposed the appointment of micro observers and questioned the timing of the SIR.
The TMC delegation also said the time given for SIR was too short. Sources claimed when the CEC tried to explain that the SIR before polls was a statutory requirement and tried to clarify issues, the CM kept interjecting, which the CEC didn’t like. Thereafter, Banerjee thumped the table and walked out in protest.
"Will the Election Commission choose the government before the election? We are watching. You have the power of the BJP. We have the power of the people. So we boycotted the meeting. They have insulted us, humiliated us. I am saying this type of Election Commission is very arrogant. He (the CEC) spoke with a certain attitude. Deliberately, he behaved so badly with us. We didn't get justice, but you are doing injustice and telling lies. He is a great liar. He is giving a briefing after our queries. All are junk. all are lies. We gave five letters, and he didn't reply to a single one," Banerjee had said on Monday.