Accusing the central forces of forcefully asking people to vote for BJP, especially women, the West Bengal Chief Minister on Wednesday asked people to “gherao” the CRPF personnel if they cause any trouble.
While addressing a rally at Cooch Behar district in north Bengal, Banerjee said, “Keep an eye on CRPF personnel. Gherao them because they do not let people cast their votes. While one team will engage them in conversations the other team will cast votes. This is how everyone can exercise their franchise,”, as she referred to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed for security around polling booths.
The Election Commission has sought a report from the district magistrate.
“I want a peaceful vote. People should be allowed to cast their votes. The CRPF should not stop people from voting. Who has asked central forces to tell people: ‘Vote for BJP’? Who has asked them to do ‘Modi or Didi’? I respect real jawans but not this BJP CRPF who are assaulting women, harassing people,” she said.
Banerjee’s statement has prompted BJP to complain with the EC. State BJP leader Shishir Bajoria has demanded that Banerjee should be stopped from campaigning and her party derecognized. In a letter, the BJP leader said that Banerjee is creating a law and order problem and stated that the statement against security forces was “seditious and anti-nation.”
The party also alleged that the car of its state president Dilip Ghosh, who was campaigning at Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar, was stoned by TMC workers after Banerjee made the remarks.
“We told the CEO that by making such statements, Banerjee may trigger untoward incidents,” said Bajoria. The BJP’s letter said the vehicle of the party’s Sitai constituency (also in Cooch Behar) candidate Dipak Kumar Roy was vandalised by TMC workers who took “a cue from her (Banerjee’s) statements.”
BJP also alleged that people who were returning from Banrjee’s rally were shouting provocative remarks, attacked BJP workers with sticks, bombs and brickbats and vandalised their car. However, all these allegations were denied by the TMC.
Accusing BJP of distributing a coupon among local people promising ₹1000 for a vote for the party at Raidighi in South 24 Parganas, where polls were held in the third phase, the TMC also shared on social media an image of the alleged coupon which has a photograph of the Prime Minister.
"Do not take money from the BJP for casting votes. It is a sin," Banerjee said at a rally in north Bengal. She also urged women voters to be brave and come out and vote for her.
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"This is absolutely baseless. Our party never distributes such coupons. The EC will find out the truth if it conducts a probe," said Bengal BJP's chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya.
She also said that she will not send people to detention camps like in Assam. People who live in Bengal are Indian citizens and the state government recognises refugees, adding that the state cabinet has decided to grant lands to them and will fight for them.