Blame game in Bengal: BJP, TMC trade barbs after SIR officers picketed for 8 hours in Malda

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like As the contest heats up in West Bengal ahead of the assembly elections, the BJP and TMC traded blame and barbs on Thursday after a mob picketed judicial officers in Malda district. Central forces deployed for tight security at the CEO office of the Election Commission of India in Kolkata ahead of demonstrations by various political parties during the West Bengal Assembly elections. (ANI/Representational)On Wednesday, a mob in Malda surrounded a group of seven judicial officers, including three women, during an SIR exercise in the district around 4 PM. As per police, the workers were rescued around midnight. As per a report by PTI, police officials stated batons had to be used to disperse the crowd. The crowd also alleged that the officials were removing the names of eligible voters during the exercise. In a similar protest, National Highway 12 between Kolkata and Siliguri was also blocked. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Trinamool Congress of instigating the mob, which resulted in the gherao of the judicial officers. "Afraid of losing the elections following the deletion of names of bogus voters, the TMC has mobilised jihadi elements in the district and orchestrated this unconstitutional, illegal agitation, keeping judicial officers, magistrates, including women confined in the extreme heat, humid conditions for hours," BJP state spokesperson Debit Sarkar was quoted as saying. Answering questions regarding discrepancies in the electoral rolls, Sarkar added that it was due to the state government not providing an adequate number of officials for the SIR exercise. "They (some police and government officials) must understand that when the EC has taken every step to ensure not a single bogus elector can cast votes, the old practice should not click any more," Sarkar said. The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, has rejected the BJP's accusations and instead blamed the Election Commission of India for failing to ensure the safety of its officers. Addressing the mob, TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh said that the party would not support any move to take the law into one's hands. "The EC is now monitoring everything - the administration and police. They must explain why such a thing occurred. Why were judicial officials gheraoed by aggrieved villagers for so many hours?" asked Ghosh. TMC also flagged the issue of the deletion of lakhs of voter names from the SIR of electoral rolls, especially in Malda district, which was at the top of the list. West Bengal is set to head to the polls in a two-phase election on April 23 and 29. The results for the assembly elections will be counted on May 4. Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered.Read More