New Delhi, April 7 The BJP on Tuesday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of "spreading fear" among voters and alleged that the ruling TMC is obstructing free and fair elections in the state.
Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad countered Banerjee's claim that central forces were being deployed to target voters and said the remarks reflect "desperation" in the face of an impending electoral defeat.
"It seems that she is facing a certain and heavy defeat. Mamata ji, you are now in desperation. When a leader becomes desperate, they start saying anything," he said.
"I strongly condemn this claim that the CRPF is coming to beat people. Mamata ji, the CRPF is not coming to beat anyone. They are coming to ensure that innocent voters, who are prevented from voting by your cadres through violence, can exercise their voting rights," he said.
He claimed that central forces were being deployed to ensure peaceful polling and to end what he described as an "atmosphere of fear and intimidation" in the state.
"Peaceful elections are in the interest of the country and in line with the Constitution. Central forces are there to ensure that voters are not prevented from casting their votes," Prasad said.
The West Bengal CM reportedly claimed on Monday that CRPF personnel from Uttar Pradesh were being brought to the poll-bound state in 200 vehicles, which the Election Commission countered with — "All deployments of central forces are being carried out as per established standard operating procedure in an impartial manner."
"Now, if the Election Commission is trying to ensure fair and honest elections, you are threatening them. What else can be said? If your people can even threaten judicial officers, including women judicial officers, for hours, then what more needs to be said?" he said, referring to the gherao of the judicial officers in Kaliachak on March 31.
The BJP leader also alleged that TMC workers had a history of preventing opposition supporters from participating in the electoral process.
"We have seen that in your state, your party cadres do not even allow people to file nominations in local body elections. They tear up their papers.
"In Kolkata, people are not allowed to vote — is this not the truth? Your TMC-backed groups stand there, snatch voter slips, and stop people from voting," he alleged.
Citing incidents of violence, Prasad claimed that BJP workers and candidates had been targeted.
"We have seen cases where candidates and their families were attacked. This reflects the ground reality under TMC rule," he said.
He further alleged that the state government had failed to act against illegal infiltration and instead "encouraged" it.
"Action against infiltrators could not take place because the state government blocked it. Their police encourage infiltrators and do not allow others to function," he claimed, adding that when the BJP comes to power, stricter action will be taken against them.
"Now, as strict action is being taken, many infiltrators are leaving on their own. And when a BJP government comes, even stronger action will be taken," he said.
The BJP leader also took note of Banerjee's allegation that names of voters had been deleted from electoral rolls, and said the opposition was making "baseless claims" to mislead the public.
