Kolkata, March 25 – Following the Indian Election Commission (ECI), the central armed police forces (CAPF) are now facing a fierce attack from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who accused the central forces of acting as agents of the BJP in West Bengal, similar to the Commission.
On Wednesday, the Chief Minister addressed three consecutive rallies across North Bengal as part of the preparations for the upcoming two-phase state assembly elections. From one of the rallies, she raised allegations against the CAPF companies already deployed in the state.
She stated that every vote against the BJP would be a form of retribution against the ECI for causing inconvenience to the people through the special intensive revision.
She added that she held immense respect for the CAPF, but now she saw that in West Bengal, they were acting as the BJP's agents and even carrying the BJP's flags.
"The women of West Bengal will need to take special initiative this time to protect the polling booths from the morning on the days of polling. If you want peace in West Bengal for five years, you will have to protect the booths for a day and prevent outsiders from electoral manipulation. Come out onto the streets with whatever you have at home," the Chief Minister said.
She also launched a fierce attack against the Commission for transferring, replacing, and deputing bureaucrats and police officers from West Bengal to other states without prior intimation.
"I am the elected Chief Minister of West Bengal. But despite that, my officers have been transferred without my advance notice. Now, who will be responsible for essential and emergency administrative activities in the state? Who will be providing food? Who will be handling natural disasters like floods or storms? The BJP is mistaken if they think of crushing me through such actions," she said.
Regarding the special intensive revision (SIR), she stated that it was shameful that citizens of West Bengal were now being forced to submit proof of their citizenship after so many years.
She said that people from the tribal and backward class communities had been specially sent logical discrepancy notices, and she was sure that the NRC in West Bengal was next on the agenda.
"But as long as I am alive, I will not allow that to happen. I will not send a single person to the detention camp," the Chief Minister said.
