Mamata vows to save endangered democracy
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again slammed the powers that be in Delhi for “endangering democracy” in India by “forcibly thrusting” the national register for citizens (NRC) and special intensive revision (SIR) and vowed to defend democracy.
Paying her tribute at the statue of BR Ambedkar Banerjee on Wednesday, pledged to save democracy and secularism, saying “today democracy and secularism is in danger and federalism is being bulldozed this has to be stopped” before pledging to protect democracy at all costs. “Today, on this Constitution Day, I pay my deepest respect to the framers of the Constitution, particularly BR Ambedkar who was for the first time elected from Bengal” Banerjee said reminding how “democracy serves as the backbone of our nation,” and adding today, when democracy and religion are being attacked and questions are being raised on citizenship and voting rights, we must ask ourselves: do we now have to give proof of our citizenship?” Banerjee has been ferociously vocal against the way SIR was being imposed on the country writing letters on several occasions to the Election Commission of India. “They have pushed people to the verge of dying because of the citizenship issue (CAA-SIR). Ascribing NRC as the main reason “behind SIR,” she said, “I take the pledge here today to protect India’s democracy,” adding “India did not get freedom because of the mercy of those in power today (read the BJP), rather we got it because of the freedom fighters where 90 per cent were Bengalis” besides Punjab.
In an apparent bid to play the Bengali Asmita (pride) card, Banerjee said it was Bengal which brought renaissance and revolution to India. Subsequent her party, Trinamool Congress, quoting her wondered whether there was an attempt being made to destroy Bengal’s identity.
“We are a part of India and we are proud to say that Bengal has always fought for democracy, secularism, and unity in diversity.
We are saddened to see democratic rights being taken away and division happening everywhere on religious grounds. People are being tortured, irrespective of Tapasili, Dalit, Adivasi, minority or the Hindu voters. Those who died (because of SIR), most of them were Hindus. We are all one, we must remember this,” the TMC quoting the Chief Minister said. Banerjee also referred to how the BLOs were being pressurised to complete SIR in two months’ time, where the same was done in three years in 2002 when the last SIR took place. “At least three BLOs have committed suicide and some others have died failing to take the pressure and some others are in hospital about 35 people have died because of this unplanned SIR thrust on the people who are the citizens of the country and are being harassed for no fault of theirs so much for what and at whose instance,” the Chief Minister said. Meanwhile in a related development the Election Commission of India on Wednesday wrote a letter to the Kolkata Police drawing its attention to the breach of security at the office of the State Chief Electoral Officer on Monday and sought a report about the same within 48 hours.
The ECI letter read, “The Commission further directs that adequate security classification shall be done on account of the sensitivity involved due to SIR activities and forthcoming elections in the State and ensure that no untoward incident occurs again.” A section of the BLOs had been sitting on a dharna outside the State Chief Electoral Officer’s office demanding adequate training, and extension of the time period for completion of the SIR process.
