EC on TMC charge that it acted at BJP behest: Undignified to respond

EC on TMC charge that it acted at BJP behest: Undignified to respond

In reaction to TMC’s claim that Wednesday’s alleged attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was linked to the removal of the state police chief, the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday outlined the letter from the party as “full of innuendo and assertions”.

Describing the Nandigram incident in which Banerjee was injured as “unfortunate”, the EC, in its letter to TMC, said that the matter deserved to be “investigated promptly and swiftly”.

However, the voting panel, resentful of the allegation that he had removed the police chief at the behest of the BJP, wrote: “It seems unworthy even to respond to allegations that this was all done at the behest of one particular political party. ”.

The EC was responding to the TMC’s letter to the West Bengal electoral director one day after Banerjee was injured in Nandigram.

In the letter, the TMC alleged that the “attack is a deep-seated conspiracy to take the life” of the party chief. It also indirectly held the EC responsible for the incident, claiming that state law and order are the responsibility of the EC once the Model Code of Conduct enters into force.

The party is expected to raise the issue with the EC in New Delhi on Friday, with a delegation of six MPs flying from Calcutta to shore up the point.

Dismissing TMC’s claim, the Commission wrote that it was “completely incorrect” to suggest that it had taken over the machinery of law and order in the state in the name of holding elections and had appropriated the entire structure of government. .

The accusations virtually amounted to undermining the very foundations and structure of India’s Constitution, the electoral body wrote, stressing that the Commission “does not appropriate or take over the day-to-day governance of any state, including West Bengal.”

The Commission also clarified its position on the removal of the DGP and criticized TMC for linking it to the Nandigram incident.

“The DGP was not eliminated summarily and without any application of mind. It was the result of the recommendation of Special Observers, Ajay Nayak and Vivek Dube. In fact, yesterday also, when the Commission learned of the unfortunate incident by electronic means, a report was immediately requested from the Chief Secretary of West Bengal and the Special Observers, currently in West Bengal, within 48 hours, ”he said. adding that until the reports arrive, it is not possible to draw any conclusions.

“The competent authorities in West Bengal have already submitted an FIR to investigate the matter locally. Similarly, ADG (Law & Order) was also modified after Special Observers considered the application of the mind. When the elections have already been announced, it is not legally necessary or mandatory to consult the State Government because these are normally temporary measures for the election period. There is no point continuing to comment on the repeated insinuations that all of this is being done at the behest of any other party. The Commission will await the report from the SC, as well as from the Special Observers and will share the content with all interested parties, including the Government of West Bengal, ”its letter said.

The TMC, in its complaint in Kolkata, had said: “Within 24 hours after the removal of the former DGP, an attempt was carried out on the life of Ms Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram tonight. She was campaigning and submitted her nomination this afternoon. At the time of the assault, neither the Police SP nor the local police were present to give her security coverage, despite the fact that she is a Z plus protégé. Only her personal security officers were with her. ”

The letter, signed by TMC high-level leaders Partha Chatterjee, Derek O Brien and Chandrima Bhattacharya, read: “There appears to be a nexus between the BJP complaints against the former DGP, the ECI unilaterally dismissing the DGP, the SP and The District Police were absent at the time of the blatant attack on Ms. Mamata Banerjee. The attack is a deep-seated conspiracy to take the life of our president. We ask for an immediate investigation into the same. ”