New Delhi: Mamata Banerjee was banned from campaigning in Bengal for 24 hours this evening by the Election Commission on speeches that violated the Election Code. The Election Commission announced this on Monday evening. This stop starts at 8 pm on Monday night. The chief minister is accused of breaking the law on his comments on Muslim votes and urging voters to revolt against central security forces.
Annoyed by this decision of the Election Commission, Mamta Banerjee will stage a sit-in in Kolkata today. There is no prima facie case of election campaigning of leaders towards the Election Commission. In the last Lok Sabha election, the Election Commission had banned the promotion of many leaders.
Mamta Banerjee said, “In protest against the undemocratic and unconstitutional decision of the Election Commission of India, I will sit on a dharna at Gandhi idol in Kolkata from 12 noon tomorrow.”
The Bengal chief minister was given two notices last week by the Election Commission, stating that the chief minister broke laws on his comments on Muslim votes and incited voters against central security forces.
She was asked to explain her speeches on March 28 and April 7, allegedly accusing central forces of intimidating voters and urging women to return or surround security personnel.
During the March rally, she said, “Who gave them so much strength that the central police is threatening women without allowing them to vote?” I saw the same thing in 2019, I saw the same thing in 2016. “
She said, “I know under whose instruction they beaten people.” It is your duty to save the families of the people. If someone attacks any of our mothers and sisters with poles, then attack them with ladles, poles and knives. I am telling you. It is the right of women and if any of our mothers and sisters are prevented from entering the voting station, you will all come out and revolt.
The election body said that in Cooch Behar, she has made ‘highly objectionable remarks’ on the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF).
In another notice, the chief minister has been accused of ‘seeking votes on communal grounds’.
“On April 3, during the election campaign in Hooghly district, Mamata Banerjee said,” I am pleading with my minority brothers and sisters with folded hands. Do not divide minority votes after listening to Satan. Those who took money from BJP. She makes many communal statements.
The Election Commission has stated that its response to both notices was controversial.
In these elections, Banerjee is at loggerheads with the Election Commission. Earlier she was warned on a ‘factually incorrect’ complaint about voting in Nandigram, where she is in front of BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.
This is not the first time that such a leader has been banned by the Election Commission. Earlier, the Election Commission had banned the election campaign of UP CM Yogi Adityanath, while the BSP supremo Mayawati had also banned the election meeting. Some were banned for 48 hours while others were banned for 72 hours. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, such decisions were taken by the Election Commission on several such occasions. During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the campaigning of Amit Shah was banned.
(With agency inputs)