Mamata Banerjee Slams EC Over Suspension of Officials, Says 'We Stand by Our Officers'
Kolkata, 7 August (H.S.) – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday strongly objected to the Election Commission of India''s (ECI) decision to suspend four state officials, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated. Speaki
Mamata


Kolkata, 7 August (H.S.) – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday strongly objected to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to suspend four state officials, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated. Speaking at a government welfare event, Banerjee questioned the EC’s authority to take such action ahead of the formal announcement of elections.

Under what rule is the Election Commission taking such steps? There is no such provision in the Constitution. Are they trying to intimidate people in the name of NRC? the Chief Minister said. She alleged that under the guise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the EC was conspiring to delete genuine voters' names.

On Tuesday, the Election Commission suspended two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), two Assistant EROs, and a data entry operator over alleged lapses in voter list preparation in two districts. The Commission also directed that FIRs be filed against all five individuals.

Banerjee asserted that the EC has no constitutional right to interfere before elections are officially announced. She accused the Commission of attempting to implement NRC “through the backdoor” under the cover of voter list revisions.

Highlighting what she called a targeted campaign against Bengalis, Banerjee claimed that many were being wrongfully labeled as foreigners and removed from electoral rolls. Urging people to re-enroll themselves, she asked, “Do those making these laws even have all their documents? What about those born at home or those who lost papers during natural disasters?”

The Chief Minister alleged that Bengali-speaking migrant workers were being harassed in BJP-ruled states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. “More than 2,000 of our people have been brought back so far. Some were pushed toward Bangladesh, others were called Rohingyas — this is a conspiracy by the double-engine governments,” she said.

Displaying a ₹10 currency note from 1912 on her mobile phone, Banerjee pointed out that Bengali was printed on it. “Today, we are being told Bengali is not even a language. Is speaking our mother tongue now a crime?” she questioned.

Banerjee clarified that while actual illegal immigrants should be deported, Indian citizens were being harassed in the name of NRC. Reacting strongly to reports that some residents of North Bengal had received notices from the Assam government, she warned that such actions would not be tolerated.

“Over 1.5 crore migrant workers from other states are working in Bengal. Why is no one questioning them?” she asked, adding that Bengal’s workers were recruited for their skills and did not migrate by choice.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh


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