Mamata asks CEC to ensure final phase of Lok Sabha polls without orders of PM Modi
Kolkata: A day before the final phase of Lok Sabha Election in West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora in a letter to ensure the polling without any "interference" and "intervention" of the Narendra Modi government and ruling BJP at the Centre.
Venting her anger against new Kolkata Police Commissioner Dr Rajesh Kumar she also accused him of withdrawing prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in central parts of the city to allow BJP president Amit Shah's May 14 roadshow which was marred by violence including vandalism of Bengali polymath Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's bust at a college, also named after the icon.
On Saturday the Trinamul Congress supremo wrote to the CEC, "In the final phase of the election tomorrow, I would request your good office to kindly ensure that election is completed peacefully, impartially and without any undue interference of the Central Government and without any intervention of the Ruling Party at the Centre. I would request you to kindly protect democratic institutions and federal structure of the country and extend due respect to the opposition parties."
She elaborated, "Tomorrow is the final phase of election in West Bengal which has seen a number of illegal, unconstitutional and biased decisions during the election process because of undue influence of the Central Government and the Ruling Party at the Centre. As a result not only the State Government administration and its officers but also the common people of the State have been harrassed and attacked in various manner."
Ms Banerjee complained, "It may be recalled that all evidences show that the roadshow of the BJP president in Kolkata on 14.05.2019 was permitted by way of withdrawing Section 144 in the area by the new Commissioner of Police appointed by the Election Commission. The roadshow was itself a deliberate, intentional and a criminal conspiracy to vandalize the culture and heritage of Kolkata West Bengal and also to defame the West Bengal Government and its people."
She also alleged, "The Election Commission of India had appointed two retired as special observers which is not accordance with the law. These two Special Observers had shown partisan attitude and always complied with the instructions given by the Central Government and the Ruling Party at the Centre time and again. All these issues were brought to the notice of the Election Commission of India but no justice has been done."
Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading.
