Mamata to move SC on SIR
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is expected to appear before the Supreme Court on Wednesday for the hearing of her petition challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State. The court’s security wing has reportedly granted clearance for her visit. Banerjee is a Z+ category protectee.
In a separate case pertaining to the TMC, the Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned to February 10 the hearing on a plea moved by the ED alleging obstruction by the West Bengal government, including by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in its search operation at the I-PAC office and the premises of its director Pratik Jain in connection with an alleged coal pilferage scam. Mamata, who is camping in the national Capital for the last two days, alleged that the victims of SIR were not being given an opportunity to defend themselves and questioned the intent behind the conduct of SIR in states just ahead of assembly elections. Addressing a Press conference with “victims” of the SIR process from Bengal, she said they represented many others who suffered due to the exercise.
Mamata and her party colleague Abhishek Banerjee earlier met the “victims” of the SIR exercise at Banga Bhawan in Chanakyapuri, and claimed they are genuine voters whose names were erased from the electoral rolls. Banerjee assured them all support and said this fight for their rights, dignity, and democratic voice will not stop until justice is delivered.
On Monday, the Trinamool Congress chief and other leaders had taken some of these people to a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR issue, but Mamata later walked out in protest, claiming that their delegation was “insulted”. She also accused the EC of acting at the BJP’s behest.
Questioning the timing of the SIR, the West Bengal Cm on Tuesday asked why the exercise was being conducted on the eve of assembly elections. She also questioned why the exercise was being conducted in only poll-bound states ruled by the opposition and not in BJP-ruled Assam. “Out of four election-bound states, they’re doing SIR in three states and not in BJP-ruled Assam,” she said.
