Sunday 17 / November / 2024
Chandipur (West Bengal): Claiming that a section of police officials have "unleashed terror" on people at the behest of the Election Commission, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday warned them of "consequences" if she is voted to power again.
"Those responsible will have to face the consequences. Election Commission's duty is to ensure free and fair poll, but they have unleashed terror with the help of a section of police officials," Mamata alleged, addressing an election rally here in Midnapore district of the east Indian state of West Bengal.
Referring to officers who were appointed to important posts like that of Kolkata Police Commissioner and District Magistrates and SPs under instructions from the poll panel, the West Bengal chief minister said, "If someone thinks by getting power for 15 days, he will do anything, then he is mistaken."
Mamata had in 2014 reinstated some officers who had been removed by the EC during the Lok Sabha polls, after the poll process got over. Claiming she had got the "confirmation" about securing a majority in the Assembly polls, five phases of which are over, Mamata said she had taken note of who had done what and also those who had worked "impartially".
"Enough is enough. I am gentle to those who are good, but if anybody shows red eyes to me, then he will have to face the consequences," she said.
In the fifth and penultimate phase of polling in 53 constituencies spread over south Kolkata, Hooghly and South 24 Parganas districts on Saturday, police personnel were said to have proactively controlled law and order situation in coordination with the central paramilitary forces.
"What has happened in these elections is unprecedented. I have seen elections since 1977 when I was a college student and have contested since 1984 Lok Sabha polls. But I have never seen such activities taking place in the name of elections," the TMC supremo said.
Alleging that local clubs and TMC offices had been locked by police and paramilitary forces, she said, "They were terrorising voters through the night using mikes." "I am the chief minister of the state, even I could not sleep for two-three nights due to the police tandav.
The paramilitary forces are being egged on by some coward police personnel," she said. "These coward policemen have worked at the behest of Congress, CPI(M) and BJP," Mamata alleged.
"I have kept record of everything, what each has done, whether good or bad. I will give appropriate answer for all the atrocities if I am alive," she said.
Election, she said, is a festival of democracy, but they (EC) imposed section 144 (CrPC) and terrorised people as if curfew had been imposed, Mamata said.
She alleged that CPI(M), Congress and BJP were controlling police stations and that a section of policemen were acting on "wild allegations" of the opposition parties. Urging voters here in East Midnapore district, where elections are to be held on May five in the last phase, not to be afraid of central forces, she said "It is we (TMC) who will be there after a few days."
