Mamata Banerjee said she may join the October 10 Jantar Mantar protest seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s removal as chief election commissioner. She linked that possibility to wider opposition anger over voter roll deletions, electoral malpractice and police action in Delhi.
Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that she may join the protest called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10 seeking the removal of Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner, though she said no final decision had been taken.
She was speaking before flying to the national capital to take part in the ongoing protests of the opposition INDIA bloc.
Banerjee also attacked the BJP and the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in voter list revision and electoral malpractices in West Bengal. She said she was travelling despite the ongoing Puja season because, in her words, “when people are raising their voices for an important cause, we must stand beside them”.
Speaking to reporters before boarding her flight, Banerjee said, “I may join the protest at Jantar Mantar scheduled for October 10, but nothing can be confirmed now. We have maintained a relationship with them and have extended our support, while any further decision regarding our participation will be taken later.” The protest has been called by the Cockroach Janata Party.
She said lakhs of names had allegedly been unfairly deleted from electoral rolls in the state and accused the BJP and the Election Commission of acting together to weaken the election process.
Repeating her criticism on Thursday, she said, “No election has ever taken place like the way it was conducted in Bengal. Have you ever heard anyone declaring before an election exactly how many votes they will win by? This clearly raises questions about calculated voting, bogus voting, rigging and vote looting. Such practices cannot continue for long, and no party can remain in power indefinitely by looting votes.”
Banerjee said that although the festive season had arrived and people were busy with Puja celebrations, she still felt it was necessary to take part in the protests.
“Initially, I had decided not to attend the programme, but since my name was included and the organisers personally requested my presence, I decided that I should go, especially when a movement is already underway, and it would not be appropriate for us to remain absent at such an important time,” she said.
She also expressed solidarity with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over their treatment by Delhi Police during the October 6 protests.
“Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition and protests are taking place across the country. Everyone has the right to take part in a movement, but the way Priyanka was treated was also very wrong,” she said.
Banerjee added that women, mothers and children deserved respect and protection irrespective of political differences, and said no political movement should lead to family members being targeted or intimidated.
The Trinamnool chief said she planned to approach President Droupadi Murmu over the police action against opposition leaders and would seek the signatures and support of leaders from parties across the country.
