Kolkata, 22 April (H.S.): A day before the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections, State Education Minister and Trinamool Congress candidate from Dum Dum, Bratya Basu, launched a sharp attack on the Central Government over several issues, including the election process, administrative interference, pending financial dues, and language and cultural concerns.

Speaking at the ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by the Kolkata Press Club on Wednesday, Basu alleged that the current electoral atmosphere had gone beyond a normal democratic exercise and was aimed at removing the woman Chief Minister of the state through a planned strategy.

He claimed that nearly 9.1 million voters had been removed from the electoral rolls in the name of a Special Intensive Revision process. Basu said ordinary people were forced to stand in long queues to prove their citizenship and further alleged that around 200 people had died by suicide during the process.

He also said that those who had earlier been labelled as “infiltrators” had still not been specifically identified, raising questions over the Centre’s policy.

Basu accused the Centre of influencing the electoral atmosphere through the large-scale deployment of central security forces, transfer of several administrative officers and police station heads, and frequent visits by senior national leaders to the state.

He alleged that instead of ensuring free and fair elections, such steps were creating an atmosphere of pressure and intimidation.

The minister further claimed that officials associated with his party’s policy-making process were being suddenly arrested. He accused agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation of conducting raids at the homes of candidates in the name of investigations, thereby creating fear and confusion.

On financial issues, Basu alleged that nearly Rs 8,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana was still pending for West Bengal. He also claimed that while other states had received funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission, West Bengal had been deprived.

He said the state was being subjected to financial discrimination.

Basu also criticised remarks made by certain leaders regarding Bengal’s language, culture, and historical personalities. He alleged that insensitive comments had been made about Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Mahatma Gandhi, while even the names of several places had been pronounced incorrectly.

He further claimed that around 2,000 workers from Bengal employed in other states had faced harassment over language issues, while the Centre had remained silent. He also criticised the Centre’s handling of the Manipur issue.

Referring to economic indicators, Basu said that according to various surveys, the state’s per capita income had risen by around 3 percent and nearly 14 million people had moved above the poverty line.

Calling these figures encouraging, he said that just as the Chief Minister had led movements in Singur and Nandigram, the people of Bengal were standing with her in this election as well.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh