Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP for urging the Election Commission (EC) to declare Bengal a “super sensitive” state during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
She said the saffron party leaders are insulting the state as she and her party are fighting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah.
“What is the reason for declaring all the booths sensitive? Don’t you think it is a humiliation, an insult? Why is the BJP so sensitive about Bengal? Why are they so scared?” Banerjee told reporters here following a meeting with party candidates for the polls.
“Bengal is a very peaceful state. What are they insulting Bengal for? Is it because we are fighting the battle against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah? Is it because we are raising our voice against the BJP? Do they want to curb our voice?” she asked.
Pointing to a bunch of papers in her hand as government reports, the Trinamool Congress supremo said most of the people who were killed in the recent elections in the state belonged to the TMC.
She also said the claims made by senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, regarding severe lapse in the law and order situation in Bengal are “blatant lies”.
“Let them declare all the people in Bengal as sensitive. Every year so many festivities take place here. Close to 60 lakh people come here during the Ganga Sagar Mela, crores come during Durga Puja every year, and not a single untoward incident has been recorded,” she said.
A BJP delegation led by Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday met the Election Commission in Delhi and urged it to declare West Bengal a “super sensitive state” to ensure fair Lok Sabha elections, and demanded that central forces be deployed at all polling stations in the state.
Noting that the EC should act like an “impartial organisation”, she said: “Everyday whatever BJP will say, I do not think that is the bible of democracy.”
“They (EC) have to take care of all the political parties. Why only BJP?” she asked.
Banerjee also flayed the BJP for demanding a special Central observer to monitor the media in Bengal and said it is a shame that the ruling party is trying to curb the freedom of press.
“National media you (BJP) have controlled. Every day they get message from BJP regarding what to do and what not to do. It is a fact. You say for Bengal a special observer should be appointed to monitor the media? After this do you think there is any democracy left in the country? Where is the freedom of press?” Banerjee questioned.
“They are talking about controlling the Bengal media. I am telling BJP..do not do all these blunders. Bengalis are very intelligent, intellectual and sensitive. Bengal always salutes the freedom of press. The press club should organise a protest against it,” she said.
Claiming that BJP is scared of her, Banerjee said the saffron outfit at the Centre will never be able to control her.
“Do they think they can control me? Never..never-ever. I am also doing politics from a very young age. I am happy that BJP is so scared of me,” she said.
“They are scared of media too. Tomorrow, they will ask for observers to ensure that they get all the votes. They have become a laughing stock. I want to tell BJP..please go home and take rest. Media will not be controlled by anybody.
“If they come back to power, they will destroy the Indian constitution,” Banerjee added.
