Didi: Is Census Another Sir To Axe Names?
“You will be all in all in deciding who should be the government party and who will be the opposition! That means there will be no opposition": Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee
KOLKATA: Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee expressed her fear on Tuesday about a fresh attempt of deletion of citizens' names, like the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR), in the Census that has got underway in West Bengal from this month. She shared her apprehension in yet another Facebook broadcast address from her Kalighat residence, exactly three months after losing power.
Ms Banerjee said, “They are chalking out delimitation sitting at home. Census work has started but no political party, including us at least, has been involved in it. You can guess then whose name will remain and whose name will be deleted. Does it mean another SIR happening? 32 lakh names are yet to be uploaded. I moved the Supreme Court thinking of getting justice in it. But justice is delayed.”
She added, “A mass movement and awareness is needed on this issue. All have to be united in this fight.” The former West Bengal chief minister also targeted BJP Rajya Sabha MP Nagendra Ray alias Ananta Maharaj from the Rajbanshi community in the northern districts for his recent controversial comments against iconic freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose that has left his party stumped.
Without taking Mr Ray's name, Ms Banerjee observed, “I'm sad, shocked and ashamed to see the way some BJP leaders, who have no knowledge about politics, culture, harmony, this state and the country, are disrespecting Bose who founded the Indian National Army and Planning Commission and gave birth to the famous and eternal patriotic slogan ‘Jai Hind’. Today, he has been shunned just like Rabindranath Tagore. What an ominous sign!”
She alleged, “BJP leaders are mocking Bose. They are also calling him communal and even anti-national to play politics. This is an insult not only for us but for our country also.” She then accused BJP of turning Bengal into a “prison” after coming to power. “We don't know how many thousands of cases have been filed against people? All are in jail. They have turned Bengal into a prison. Where is my Sonar Bangla and Bengal of Maa-Mati-Manush?” Ms Banerjee wondered.
The ex-CM further slammed BJP for controlling the opposition in her veiled reference to her successor Suvendu Adhikari’s meeting with her dissident party MPs, who switched to NCPI, in New Delhi during the day. “You will be all in all in deciding who should be the government party and who will be the opposition! That means there will be no opposition. This is not only shameful but will trigger a wave of condemnation in future,” she claimed.