Kolkata, 18 April (H.S.): The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday approached the Election Commission of India, accusing Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of making “divisive and inciteful statements” along with defamatory and unverified allegations targeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In a letter submitted at the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, the ruling party referred to a statement allegedly made by Sarma during a campaign rally in Cooch Behar district. According to the TMC, Sarma had claimed that Banerjee’s concern over a possible ban on meat consumption if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power was limited to beef, and not other forms of meat such as chicken, mutton or fish.

The TMC said such remarks amounted to inappropriate political rhetoric and constituted a deliberate attempt to promote religious hatred and communal tension among different communities in the state.

The party also accused Sarma of making “baseless and inflammatory” claims that members of the Muslim community were opening beef shops in Hindu-majority areas and engaging in smuggling, alleging that such statements were aimed at creating suspicion and hostility against a particular religious group.

“Such rhetoric demonises a religious community, portraying them as a threat to public order and encouraging stigmatisation of minorities. These statements could disrupt the peaceful conduct of elections and lead to serious law and order issues,” the letter stated.

The TMC has urged the Election Commission to issue a show-cause notice to Sarma and the BJP, and to take stringent action against the Assam Chief Minister for making communally sensitive remarks.

It has also requested that the Commission direct the concerned police authorities to immediately register a First Information Report (FIR) against Sarma in connection with the matter.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey