Kolkata, 07 March (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of attempting to shield illegal infiltrators through her indefinite protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Kolkata.

According to the BJP, the sit-in demonstration led by the All India Trinamool Congress leadership began on Friday afternoon at Esplanade East in central Kolkata. However, no indication has been given about how long the protest will continue. Observers noted that the size of the stage and the arrangements at the site suggest that the demonstration may continue for some time.

Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, in a statement issued through his official social media handle on Saturday morning, alleged that “a drama was staged in Dharmatala in the presence of Mamata Banerjee to protect illegal infiltrators.”

Adhikari also claimed that when victims of the alleged cash-for-school-jobs scam approached the protest venue with their demands, the response from the ruling party was dismissive.

“Deprived assistant teachers from West Bengal reached the protest site with their legitimate demands, but instead of listening to them, they were told that they were acting at the behest of the BJP,” he alleged.

According to Adhikari, the protesters carrying placards were sarcastically told to show them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He further alleged that even the media was labelled an “agent of the BJP.”

Raising questions over the incident, Adhikari asked whether people in West Bengal still had the right to raise their legitimate demands. “Is there no space for protest? Whenever someone raises their voice, they are branded as an agent of someone else,” he said.

He added that the people of West Bengal were closely observing the developments and would respond to the ruling party at the appropriate time.

“The people will have to say that they want change and a BJP government in the state,” Adhikari said.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh