It will be TMC’s credit if 30 lakh names feature on voters’ list after adjudication: CM Mamata

Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that it will be her party’s credit if around 30 lakh of the over 60 lakh names under adjudication appear on the voters’ list.

Addressing an election rally here in Birbhum district, Banerjee, also the West Bengal chief minister, asserted that the TMC will ensure a legal recourse for all those whose names were deleted.

“It is to our credit if 29 to 30 lakh of the over 60 lakh names under adjudication find themselves in the list... it is because of our campaign and fight that these names would be on the list. But I want 100 per cent names to appear on the list as they are all genuine voters,” she said.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) released the first supplementary list of ‘Under Adjudication’ voters on Monday, but did not officially disclose the number of deletions or the precise figure of cases disposed of in that list.

A top ECI official in Kolkata said on Wednesday that 32 lakh ‘Under Adjudication’ cases have been disposed of so far, and around 28 lakh names remain to be cleared by judicial officers.

Addressing the rally, Banerjee said that TMC’s lawyers will help those not on the list fight their cases before the tribunals set up for the purpose.

She said that TMC’s camps will be set up in every locality to assist those whose names would not appear in the final voter list. Banerjee accused the saffron party of harassing people over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demonetisation.

The CM urged the ECI to publish the complete list detailing the logical discrepancies for over 60 lakh people. Claiming that it is still not clear whose names have been deleted from the adjudication list, she asked the Election Commission of India to “come out with the final list if they have the guts.” Banerjee said that she will ensure that those who do not find their names on the list appeal before the tribunal. “Do you want to stand in queues again or derail the BJP?” she asked, while addressing the public rally. The TMC supremo pointed out that people had to stand in queues over demonetisation, procuring the Aadhaar card and the SIR exercise.

Banerjee said that the SIR exercise, which she has opposed consistently, “was initiated just before the State Assembly elections to get President’s Rule imposed in Bengal.”

Stating that all the top officers, including the chief secretary, home secretary and the State’s DGP, have been changed by the Election Commission immediately after announcing the Assembly elections, Banerjee said, “I will remember everything.”

Maintaining that she is not “vindictive,” she said she has faith in everybody.

The tenure of the current TMC Government in the State will end on May 7.

BJP plotting to delete names of bona fide citizens from poll list: Abhishek Banerjee

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP Government at the Centre of conspiring against the country’s bona fide citizens by deleting their names from the electoral rolls under the pretext of the SIR exercise. Canvassing for TMC candidate Nirmal Chandra Roy at a rally in Jalpaiguri district’s Dhupguri, he also charged the saffron party with indulging in politics on the basis of religion and diverting people’s attention from core issues of livelihood and housing.

“The BJP Government at the Centre is conspiring against the bona fide citizens of the country. In the name of SIR, those living here for a hundred years are being forced to give proof of their citizenship.

“Even elderly people are being asked to stand in queues for hours, just to see their names either deleted (from the electoral rolls) or under adjudication,” the TMC national general secretary alleged.

Banerjee, considered number 2 in the TMC hierarchy, claimed that people belonging to indigenous communities are being asked to furnish proof of their citizenship in BJP-ruled Assam.

“The BJP is doing whatever they want. But we won’t allow them to commit such atrocities on the public. This country belongs to everyone. This battle is to protect the soil of Bengal,” he said.

At another meeting in Kalchini, Banerjee held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for “failing to protect the lives of 26 tourists last year (at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir).”

He asked why Shah or Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not resign over the tragedy, as terrorists from across the border came and sprayed bullets on civilians without being detected by the security forces.

At the earlier meeting in Dhupguri, the Diamond Harbour MP accused the BJP of dictating people’s dietary habits. “Who are they to decide what we will eat? Who are they to decide what we will wear?” Banerjee said, adding that instead of talking about core issues like livelihood and housing, the BJP was “pitting one community against another”.

Claiming the TMC always keeps its promises, he said, “From women’s empowerment initiative ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ to ‘Yuva Sathi’ scheme and ‘Students Credit Card’ for the youths, we have ensured that every intended beneficiary got their dues.”

“We work for those who support and vote for us and those who don’t. Let me ask the BJP functionaries what the BJP Governments in 15 States did for the masses. What did they do for the women and youths?” he posed.

Referring to the 10 pledges made by the TMC in its manifesto, Banerjee said these include continuing the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, providing financial assistance to women, ensuring pucca houses for all under housing schemes, doorstep delivery of healthcare services, piped drinking water to every household even if the Centre withholds funds, and old-age pension for all senior citizens.