After the Election Commission meeting in Kolkata, TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya made serious allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner of disrespect towards women and deletion of women’s names from the voter list. In the meeting, other TMC leaders also targeted the BJP and the Commission.
Kolkata: Amid preparations for the Bengal Assembly elections, a meeting of the full bench of the Central Election Commission and political parties was held in Kolkata on Monday. In this meeting, opposition parties raised questions on the security and fairness of the elections. After the meeting, senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and minister Chandrima Bhattacharya made serious allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding disrespect towards women and deletion of women’s names from the voter list.
Chandrima Bhattacharya accused the commission
As soon as she came out of the meeting, Chandrima Bhattacharya said, ‘I am a woman and he is telling me not to shout. This shows disrespect towards women. He said that women’s issues are not being taken seriously by the Commission. He said that making citizens stand in long lines to prove their identity shows the failure of the Commission.
Chandrima said on this occasion that it is not the job of the Commission to shout at women and it is a dangerous sign for the democratic process. He stressed that the Election Commission should be sensitive towards women’s rights and their safety.
Questions regarding voter list and SIR
Chandrima raised the issue of deletion of women’s names from the voter list and said that the Commission ignored the matter. He said that it is the responsibility of the Commission to ensure identity of citizens and it should be resolved.
He also cornered the Commission on the issue of SIR (Citizenship Information Registration). He questioned that when we want to discuss the SIR, the Commission says that the matter is in the court. Chandrima said that if we were not supposed to listen, then why were we called to the meeting. He accused the commission of being indifferent towards the public and women voters.
Firhad Hakim’s attack on BJP
TMC delegation member and minister Firhad Hakim targeted the BJP after the meeting. He said that BJP has presented a false narrative that Bengal is a place of infiltrators. Hakim alleged that the Election Commission was working under the influence of BJP’s policies, thereby harassing Indian citizens.
Hakim also asked who is responsible for the deaths and illnesses caused by standing in long lines due to SIR. He raised the question why such a system is being made when there is a threat to safety and health.
TMC delegation in the meeting
The meeting was attended by the TMC delegation, which also included former DGP and party’s Rajya Sabha candidate Rajeev Kumar. The delegation expressed its views regarding the policies of the Commission and issues arising in the electoral process.
TMC leaders did not make any clear comments on the stages and process of the elections at this time, but raised many questions on the impartiality and security arrangements of the commission. He said that the Election Commission should adopt a balanced and impartial attitude towards all political parties and citizens.
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