Kolkata, 25 February (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday inaugurated several development projects in Kolkata and launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, alleging that the poll body was attempting to clandestinely delete the names of 1.20 crore genuine voters from the electoral rolls.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Jain community’s sacred monument ‘Man Stambh’ in Bhowanipore, south Kolkata, Banerjee said that democracy was passing through a serious crisis. She alleged that even orders of the Supreme Court were not being implemented and that names of legitimate voters were being removed despite submission of all required documents.
The Trinamool Congress chief asserted that the issue was not about supporters of any particular political party but about safeguarding democratic rights. Whether the deleted names belonged to supporters of the Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist) or Congress, she said, the constitutional rights of citizens must not be compromised. She added that she was praying for justice and appealed against arbitrary actions that cause harassment to people.
Describing her Assembly constituency Bhowanipore as a “mini India”, Banerjee said people of different religions and communities have been living there harmoniously for generations. Participation of all communities in festivals such as Durga Puja, Christmas and Eid reflects the region’s cultural ethos, she said, adding that the Man Stambh bears religious teachings inscribed in four languages, symbolising inclusivity.
The Chief Minister said the state government has launched projects worth approximately Rs 850 crore. These include mother and child care hubs at various locations, a 100-bed hospital at Furfura Sharif in Hooghly district, and a 50-bed critical care unit at Alipurduar Hospital in north Bengal. She stated that these initiatives would address long-standing demands of the people.
Banerjee also flagged off more than 100 CNG buses and motorcycles equipped with firefighting gadgets. Twenty solar-powered high mast lamps were inaugurated, and a hostel for construction workers built at a cost of Rs 15 crore was virtually opened.
Under the ‘Sabuj Sathi’ scheme, she initiated the distribution of 12 lakh bicycles to Class XII students. Since 2015-16, over 1.50 crore bicycles have been distributed among students of Classes IX to XII in state-run and aided schools and madrasas, with the government spending nearly Rs 5,000 crore on the scheme.
Laying the foundation stone of a cultural centre for minority communities in New Town, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore, Banerjee said the facility would be available for cultural programmes of all minority groups. She also announced a contribution of Rs 1 crore from her MLA Local Area Development Fund. Additionally, she inaugurated a gate outside the Sant Kuthia gurdwara.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
