Kolkata, 23 January (H.S.) :

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday claimed that three to four people are dying by suicide every day in the state due to anxiety linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls. She asserted that the Election Commission of India and the Union government must take responsibility for the alleged deaths.

Addressing a programme at Red Road on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Banerjee said that more than 110 people had already lost their lives. “Every day, three to four people are dying by suicide due to anxiety caused by the Special Intensive Revision,” she said.

The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is currently underway in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

The Chief Minister also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of conspiring against the state and alleged that national icons were being disrespected. She claimed that figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose and B R Ambedkar were being insulted in the process.

Banerjee reiterated her criticism of the conduct of the revision exercise, maintaining that it has created widespread fear and distress among the people of the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh