Kolkata, March 10 TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said on Tuesday that the Supreme Court's intervention in the SIR exercise was a "victory for democracy and the people of Bengal", while launching a sharp attack on the Election Commission and the BJP over the alleged deletion of voters' names.
Addressing a gathering from the protest stage in Esplanade, Banerjee accused the poll panel of attempting to delay the voter list process and deprive legitimate voters of their rights.
"I salute the journalists of Bengal who dared to ask tough questions to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They have proved that there is a difference between them and the 'godi media'. Unfortunately, he could not answer a single tough question," Banerjee said.
Referring to the hearing on the SIR matter in the apex court earlier in the day, he alleged that valid voters were being removed from the electoral rolls without being allowed to defend themselves.
In a fresh set of directions, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the setting up of independent appellate tribunals, headed by former high court judges, to hear appeals against exclusions from voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
"Our lawyers told the Supreme Court that because of the BJP's manipulation, legitimate voters are being removed from the list unilaterally without any chance to present their case. Voters are not even getting an opportunity to appeal to the EC," he claimed.
Banerjee further alleged that the EC was deliberately creating technical issues in its application system to delay the process.
"The Election Commission is intentionally creating glitches in their app so that the judicial process gets delayed and the preparation of the voter list is pushed back. The Supreme Court has reprimanded the commission for this," he claimed.
He said the court had directed that mechanisms be put in place to ensure that genuine voters do not lose their voting rights.
"To ensure that no legitimate voter is deprived, the top court has asked for the formation of an appeal tribunal bench with retired judges through the Calcutta High Court. This is a victory for democracy and for 'Maa, Mati, Manush'," Banerjee said.
Praising West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said the court's observations validated the TMC's stand.
"This is the victory of the path shown by Mamata Banerjee. It is the victory of the relentless struggle of the Trinamool Congress and the blessings of the 10 crore people of Bengal," he said.
Banerjee alleged that under the leadership of Gyanesh Kumar, the poll panel was trying to prolong the process.
"Ideally, the process should have taken 15 days. But the EC is trying to stretch it to three or four months. The Supreme Court has said the Bengal case will be treated as special, and even till a day before the election, voters' names can be registered," he said.
He also claimed that the apex court had lost faith in the poll body's unilateral decisions.
Banerjee said the legal and political fight would continue until every eligible voter regained their rights.
"This fight will end only when every legitimate voter gets back their right to vote. If anyone's name has been removed illegally, they should fill up Form 6 to get re-registered," he said, adding that the apex court had assured strict monitoring of the process.
Appealing to party workers to assist people standing in queues at district election offices and block offices to submit forms, Banerjee said help should be extended to everyone irrespective of political identity, religion or caste.
He also requested the chief minister to withdraw her ongoing protest.
"You have been sitting on the streets for five days, and your demands have been recognised by the Supreme Court. Therefore, I request you to withdraw the dharna," Banerjee said.
The TMC leader said the party would intensify its political campaign across the state in the coming weeks.
"We have to make the BJP politically bankrupt in 80,000 booths. Mamata Banerjee and I will visit every assembly constituency to ensure that the BJP does not get any opportunity," he added.