EC seeks report on Mamata’s ‘provocative’ remark from CEO

NEW DELHI: Election Commission Friday sought a report from the West Bengal chief electoral officer on the recent statement by chief minister Mamata Banerjee at a public meeting in Naxalbari, Darjeeling, allegedly instigating local women to be at polling booths and use household kitchen items to deal with “necessary situations”.With her statement seen as a provocation to TMC women workers and supporters to launch attacks at polling stations in rural areas, posing a risk to the central armed police forces deployed there, of facing criminal charges were they to intervene and stop them, EC will examine if the statement amounts of provocation and interferes in discharge of duties by poll and security personnel. If so, whether it merits action for violation of the model code and other laws including BNS and the RP Act. In video footage from her public meeting in Naxalbari Wednesday, Mamata can be heard as saying, “The women of West Bengal will have to take special initiative this time to protect polling booths from morning on polling days. If you want peace in West Bengal for five years, you will have to protect the booths for a day and prevent outsiders from electoral manipulations. Come out on the streets with whatever you have at home”.Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged against those accused in the incident of violence that occurred Thursday at Basanti Bazar, Baruipur police district, in which several persons, including police personnel, were injured. The accused have been arrested.EC had earlier suspended Inspector Avijit Paul, in-charge of Basanti PS, for having failed to make adequate police arrangements in spite of having prior information regarding public programme of two political parties. Further, CAPFs had been made available for the last few days. Despite this he did not requisition CAPF. “This reflects serious negligence and dereliction of duty on his part,” EC had observed.