News Analysis India

Tag: 2021 Bengal elections

  • Congress candidate death: Imams in West Bengal urge EC to hold elections in Samserganj seat post Eid

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Bengal Imams Association, the apex body of mosque committees in the state, on Monday urged the Election Commission to set a date at least three days after Eid-ul-fitr for voting in Samserganj assembly seat, where polls were countermanded following the death of Congress candidate Rezaul Haque.

    Haque, who had contracted COVID-19, died last Thursday. Md Yahiya, the president of the association, said in a statement that Eid is likely to be celebrated on May 14 or one day earlier, on May 13, depending on the sighting of the moon.

    Polling in Murshidabad districts Samserganj constituency, where Muslims make for the major chunk of the voters, should he held at least three days after Eid to “enable everyone cast their ballots”, after having wrapped up all festivities, he suggested.

  • West Bengal polls 2021: PM Modi responsible for second wave of COVID-19, alleges Mamata Banerjee

    By ANI
    NADIA: Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that he is responsible for the second wave of COVID-19 in the country.

    Addressing a public meeting in Kaliganj, the chief minister said, “Why did not you (Prime Minister) make plans to stop corona in the last 6 months?… You have to answer this. The Prime Minister is responsible for the second wave of COVID-19. If he would have taken responsibility at the right time then this would not have happened.”

    Banerjee urged the Election Commission to club the remaining phases of the West Bengal Assembly polls into a single round in view of the surge in the COVID-19 cases. “With folded hands, I request the Election Commission to hold three phases of polls on a single day or in two days. Please do not play with the lives of people,” she said at a public meeting in Chakulia in Uttar Dinajpur.

    The chief minister later on Monday held a press conference in Kolkata to brief the state government’s measures against the intensifying pandemic situation.

    ALSO READ| Vote for BJP to end ‘tolabaji, tushtikaran, tanashahi’ prevailing under Mamata Banerjee’s rule: Nadda

    Asked about whether to impose Night Curfew, she said, “The night curfew is not the solution. We should remain alert. There is nothing to panic about. We have increased 20 per cent beds in hospitals. We have decided to start summer vacation for all schools from tomorrow till June.”

    The poll-bound West Bengal reported 8,419 fresh COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths on Saturday, the state health department informed on Sunday. “There are 49,638 active COVID-19 cases in West Bengal, while with 28 new, deaths the death toll in the state has gone up to 10,568,” the health department said.

  • People of West Bengal want ‘white’ beard, not saree: State BJP chief Dilip Ghosh

    By PTI
    BARDHAMAN (WEST BENGAL): In an apparent jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said that people want the white beard and not white saree. Ghosh’s reference to white beard is apparently to that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The TMC supremo, on the other hand, is famous for her trademark white saree and Hawaiian slippers. “White saree and Hawaiian slippers have fooled the people of West Bengal for long. That won’t happen now. They don’t want white saree anymore, what they need is the white beard, which will build Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal),” he said, while addressing an election rally at Bhatar constituency in Purba Bardhaman district.

    He said that elections in West Bengal won’t be needed to be conducted under the security provided by central forces after the BJP comes to power in the state. “We will straighten the spine of the state police that has been curved by turning the force into the political agent of the ruling party,” Ghosh said.

    He also held roadshows in Ausgram, Purbasthali and Mangalkot seats in the district. These constituencies will go to polls in the sixth phase on April 22. The results of the elections to the 294 assembly seats in the state will be declared on May 2.

  • West Bengal polls 2021: CM Mamata Banerjee warns CAPF of legal consequences after election

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday warned central force personnel deployed in West Bengal on poll duty that they would face legal consequences for their acts and high-handedness at the behest of the BJP after the elections.

    Claiming the TMC would come to power for the third consecutive term in Bengal, Mamata said the BJP leaders would not be there after the elections and the central force personnel, who are accused of working for the saffron camp, would have to come here to comply with the legal formalities against them.

    While addressing a rally at Gaighata in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas, Mamata, who has been coming down heavily on the central forces since the election started and which has only become intense after the Cooch Behar firing, said, “Do not act and show your atrocities and highhandedness at the behest of the BJP. After the election BJP leaders will not be beside you. After coming to power, we will pursue all incidents of your high-handedness. You will have to come here repeatedly to face legal consequences.”

    Referring to the firing at Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar, in which four persons were gunned down, the West Bengal chief minister said, “An FIR has been registered in this incident. We have identified the company of the central force that opened fire. Legal formalities will be initiated after the election. Do not show your high-handedness in the coming phases of the election.”

    In a recent rally, Mamata showed a piece of paper and claimed she collected the names of the CISF personnel who had pulled the trigger in Cooch Behar.

    Earlier, Election Commission banned the firebrand politician from poll campaigns for 24 hours for her statement in a public rally asking women electorates to gherao central force personnel.

    When Mamata never missed an opportunity to mention Cooch Behar firing in her speeches since the incident took place, the BJP’s high-command, too, is citing the same episode to hit out at Mamata on the issue of instigating the electorates of a particular community. BJP’s attack has become more intense after the party released an audio tape in which Mamata is purportedly heard asking TMC’s Sitalkuchi candidate to keep the bodies of the victim as she would lead a rally with it.

    Echoing what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Mamata’s “plan” to take out a rally with the bodies of Cooch Behar firing deceased, Union Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused her of playing politics over the death of four persons.

    “The incident was a fall out her instigation. Now she is doing politics over the dead bodies of four,” said Shah in a rally at purbasthali, East Burdwan, claiming the BJP already secured victory in 122 Assembly constituencies out 180 where polls were conducted till fifth phase.

  • ‘Did not violate model code, IPC’: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to EC on her remarks on CAPF

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Defending her remarks on central armed police forces, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is learnt to have told the Election Commission on Saturday that she has the highest regard for CAPF but there have been serious allegations against them of intimidating and influencing the electorate to cast their vote for a particular political party.

    Responding to a notice issued by the poll panel on Thursday, the Trinamool Congress chief denied the contents of the EC communication which sought an explanation over her “prima facie completely false, provocative and intemperate statements” against the central armed police forces deputed on election duty in the state.

    ALSO READ| Bengal poll booth violence: CM Mamata Banerjee questions central forces’ version, orders CID probe

    Banerjee also urged the poll watchdog to rescind its notice, contending she has not violated the model code or the various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

    She claimed that a girl was allegedly molested by an unidentified CRPF personnel in the early hours of April 6 at Ramnagar, under Tarakeshwar police station and the matter was reported to the police which lodged an FIR.

    She claimed that the TMC had complained with the state chief electoral officer. But till date, no tangible action has been taken nor an advisory or instruction issued by Election Commission to the central forces in this regard. “I have the highest regard for the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and commend and laud their contributions to the safety and security of the country,” she said in her reply.

    West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee replies to Election Commission notice to her on her remarks on CAPFs. She states, “There has been no effort to incite/influence the electorate against CAPFs. It is clear I haven’t violated Model Code of Conduct.” pic.twitter.com/KnwrryG5gI
    — ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2021

    But during the first three phases of polls in West Bengal, there have been serious allegations of CAPF resorting to intimidation of voters by exerting force, influencing the electorate to cast their votes for a particular political party, Banerjee is learnt to have alleged her reply.

    She claimed that her party has also lodged several complaints but only a few were redressed. To drive home her point that she did not instigate people to carry out violent acts against the central forces, Banerjee also reproduced certain portions of her speech in her reply to the EC.

    “I tell you ladies, a group of you go and restrain (gherao) them while another group will go to cast their votes. One group will restrain them and another group will go to cast their votes. Don’t waste your vote. If you engage yourself only in restraining them, they will be happy that you did not cast your vote. This is their plan. It is the plan of the BJP,” she added.

    ALSO READ| Bengal polls 2021: CM Mamata Banerjee demands Amit Shah’s resignation over firing incident

    “And your plan will be that you will not be scared if they try to intimidate you coming to your village on the one hand, on the other you just talk to them. Talking to them will tantamount to restraining them. You don’t have to gherao them literally,” according to the portion of her speech cited in her reply.

    She said that in her speech she had only called upon the voters, specifically women voters, “to protest democratically by gherao if and when somebody (including CAPF) created any obstruction in their right to vote”.

    She said “gherao” is one of the democratic ways of registering public protest and there is no reason why gherao should be considered illegal. Banerjee said the term “gherao” has been a part of the political lexicon of West Bengal since late 1960.

    She said it has been used to connote peaceful “satyagraha” against authorities and she referred to “gherao” in her speech by way of verbal engagement and not a literal gherao.

    ALSO READ| West Bengal poll firing: Trinamool Congress seeks explanation from EC over death of four

    The TMC chief again targeted the Centre and the CAPF on Saturday after four people were killed in firing by CISF personnel allegedly after coming under attack from locals who “attempted to snatch their rifles” in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district during the fourth phase of polls.

    Banerjee said her government will initiate a CID probe into the incident and questioned the central forces’ version of firing in self-defence.

  • Bengal poll booth violence: CM Mamata Banerjee questions central forces’ version, orders CID probe

    By PTI
    SILIGURI (WEST BENGAL): Questioning the central forces’ version of firing on voters in self-defence in Cooch Behar that killed four people, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said her government will initiate a CID probe into the incident.

    ALSO READ| Mahayagya of ‘Asol Paribartan’ will begin in West Bengal from May 2: PM Modi

    Banerjee said there is no video footage or any other proof to substantiate claims of the central forces. “Where does this theory come from? Who was injured on their part? Is there any footage? After killing those people, they were supporting the act. A CID probe will be initiated to find out the circumstances behind the incident,” she told reporters here.

    Four people were killed as central forces opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who “attempted to snatch their rifles”, police said.

    ALSO READ| West Bengal elections: EC orders adjournment of polls at polling station no 126 at Sitalkuchi

    Banerjee reiterated her demand for the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the firing incident in Cooch Behar, and wondered whose “direct interference into the functioning of the Election Commission and central forces” led to the excesses.

  • Mahayagya of ‘Asol Paribartan’ will begin in West Bengal from May 2: PM Narendra Modi

    By ANI
    NADIA (WEST BENGAL): As polling for the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the ‘mahayagya’ of ‘Asol Paribartan’ will begin in the state from May 2.

    Speaking at a public gathering in Krishnanagar, he said: “BJP is the only party in the country which has been receiving ideological energy from West Bengal. From May 2, the ‘mahayagya’ of ‘Asol Paribartan will begin in Bengal. This mahayagya will teach a lesson to appeasers, extortors and those who neglect Bengal.”

    Election results will be declared on May 2. “Now, with the mantra ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwaas’, the double engine of development will take place, meaning the Centre and Bengal will have BJP government,” he added.

    ALSO READ| Bengal polls 2021: PM Modi condoles death in CISF firing, blames Trinamool Congress for violence

    PM Modi stressed that the state will move towards peace and tranquility after decades of bloodshed, fear and violence and will complete the concept of ‘Sonar Bangla’. “Now, the holy stream will be freed from mafia rule, cow smuggling and intruders. People will decide the government, not the extortionists. Police decisions will be decided by the police themselves, not the extortionists. The storm of Baisakh will uproot the TMC government and its goons from Bengal,” he mentioned.

    Earlier today PM Modi slammed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for ‘insulting’ the Scheduled Caste (SC) community of the state. “The thinking of Didi and TMC leaders are coming out in the open. A video is going viral on social media where a leader close to Didi can be seen insulting members of the Scheduled Caste community. She had said the SC community in Bengal acts like beggars. Didi, such arrogance! Such thinking!” said the Prime Minister while addressing a public meeting in Siliguri.

    Voting is underway in 44 constituencies in five districts of West Bengal during the fourth phase of the state Assembly polls. Among the 44 constituencies, nine are in Howrah, 10 in Hooghly, 11 in South 24 Parganas, five in Alipurduar and nine in Cooch Behar.

  • West Bengal elections: EC orders adjournment of polls at polling station no 126 at Sitalkuchi

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI:  The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday ordered adjournment of polls at polling station number 126 in the Sitalkuchi Assembly constituency of West Bengal amid reports of violence. A spokesperson of the poll panel said the decision was based on an interim report filed by special observers.

    ALSO READ| TMC asks EC to act against BJP ‘goons’ creating ‘ruckus’ in Cooch Behar

    Detailed reports have been sought from them and the state Chief Electoral Officer by 5 pm. The decision comes against the backdrop of four persons being killed as central forces allegedly opened fire after coming under attack from locals, who “attempted to snatch their rifles”, in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district on Saturday.

    CLICK HERE FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF PHASE-IV OF BENGAL POLLS

    A senior district police officer said that the incident took place in the Sitalkuchi area when voting was underway. “According to preliminary reports, four persons were killed as CISF personnel opened fire after coming under attack in a village,” he said.

  • Bengal poll booth violence: Sources cite ‘attack on CISF QRT, injury to child’ as reason

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A CISF quick reaction team coming under attack during a security patrol and injury to a child in the commotion are stated to have triggered the violence at a polling booth in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district which left four people dead on Saturday, official sources said.

    They said it all started around 9:35 AM when a CISF team, led by an Inspector-rank officer, was inspecting the Jor Patki area of Sitalkuchi constituency jointly with the local police with an aim to “clear the elements which were resisting” the voters from reaching the polling booth no 126 at Amtali Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra and other locations nearby.

    The security personnel intervened to stop this crowd of about 50-60 people, and in this commotion a child fell down. After this, some “miscreants” attacked the four-wheeler carrying the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) quick reaction team (QRT) and the personnel on-board, the sources said.

    “The QRT reacted in self-defence and fired six rounds in air to disperse the mob. Later, a Deputy Commandant rank officer and in-charge of the CISF unit (567/Charlie Company) reached the spot and pacified the mob. He later left,” a senior officer said.

    About an hour later, the officials said, a group of about 150 people reached the polling booth no 186 in the vicinity, and “manhandled the polling staff”. The crowd allegedly beat up a homeguard jawan and an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker and also tried to snatch the weapon of the on-duty CISF personnel when they intervened, they said.

    The officials said that as the mob got “aggressive”, two rounds were fired in the air. But sensing the “imminent danger to their life”, the security personnel fired another seven bullet rounds towards the crowd. Four people were killed in the firing by the central forces, police said.

    In the meantime, a CISF QRT and some reinforcements from the local police reached the spot, they said, adding the polling was halted even as the crowd began to melt soon. In Delhi, the Election Commission later ordered the adjournment of polls at polling station number 126 in the Sitalkuchi Assembly constituency.

    The Central Industrial Security Force is an armed police force under the Union Home Ministry and is tasked to guard major civil airports and vital installations in the country. It has deployed multiple companies for providing security during the eight-phased assembly polls in West Bengal.

  • Bengal polls 2021: CM Mamata Banerjee demands Amit Shah’s resignation over firing incident

    By PTI
    BADURIA/ HINGALGANJ (WEST BENGAL): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday sought Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation over firing by central forces at Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar, killing four people.

    ALSO READ| Bengal polls: PM Modi condoles death in CISF firing, blames Trinamool Congress for violence

    Banerjee, speaking at a public meeting at Baduria in North 24 Parganas, said she would be leaving for Cooch Behar after attending rallies, and would visit spot where central forces opened fire during polling.

    Appealing to people to remain calm, Banerjee alleged that central policemen shot dead people standing in a queue to vote and demanded “Shah should resign” owing responsibility for the incident “which is dastardly, cold-blooded and unprecedented”.

    She said TMC would bring out protest rallies throughout the state on Sunday and asked party activists to wear black badges and peacefully protest the killings from 2 pm to 4 pm. Earlier speaking at Hingalganj, the chief minister claimed “the central forces opened fire on people standing in a queue to vote, killing 4 in Sitalkuchi”.

    ALSO READ| TMC asks EC to act against BJP ‘goons’ creating ‘ruckus’ in Cooch Behar

    She said that she had long apprehended that the forces’ would act in such a manner. “As BJP knows it has lost the people’s mandate, they are conspiring to kill people,” Banerjee added. She alleged this was part of a conspiracy hatched by the Union home minister.

    “However, I would ask everyone to remain calm and cast their vote peacefully. Avenge the deaths by defeating them,” she said.

    Banerjee said that the death toll in this election was far higher than that in the Panchayat elections held three years ago. “If you count the total number of killings since the elections began some 17-18 persons were killed. At least 12 people belonged to our party alone,” he said.

    CLICK HERE FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF PHASE-IV OF BENGAL POLLS

    Banerjee said the EC too owed the people an explanation on today’s incident. “We are not in charge of the administration. The EC is in charge of administration. They have removed the senior IPS Surajit Kar Purakaystha. They have removed my OSD Ashok Chakraborty, who is a lower ranked retired officer from RPF. Yet the EC bringing in retired officers to oversee polls here,” she said.