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Mamata Banerjee, Explain “United Muslim” Appeal: Election Commission

News Journals


Mamata Banerjee has already been “warned” by the Election Fee (File)

New Delhi:

The Election Fee on Wednesday night issued a discover to Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for “overtly demanding votes on communal grounds” whereas campaigning in Tarakeshwar in Hooghly district on April 3, forward of the third section of elections.

Ms Banerjee, 66, has been directed to clarify her remarks inside 48 hours of receipt of the discover, failing which the Fee stated it could “take a call with out additional reference to you”.

The discover relies on a criticism by a BJP delegation led by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

In response to the ballot physique, the criticism refers back to the following part of Ms Banerjee’s speech.

“… I’m requesting my minority brothers and sisters with folded fingers… do not divide the minority votes after listening to the satan… who had taken cash from the BJP… He passes many communal statements and initiates clashes between Hindus and Muslims… comrades of the CPM and BIP is roaming round with cash given by BJP to divide the minority votes”.

The feedback, the ballot physique stated, violated the RP Act and the Mannequin Code of Conduct.

Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra then hit again, tweeting: “Mamatadi issued discover by Election Fee on BJP’s complaints. What about TMC complaints… a minimum of sustain the farce of impartiality”.

On Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi – campaigning in Cooch Behar forward of the fourth section on April 10 – took a swipe at Ms Banerjee over these feedback.

“Didi (Ms Banerjee), lately you stated all Muslims ought to unite and never enable their votes to be divided… means you are convinced the Muslim vote bank has also gone out of your fingers, the Muslims have additionally turned away from you,” the Prime Minister stated.

“Had we stated the identical factor that each one Hindus ought to unite, everyone would have criticised us. The EC would have despatched us notices. We might have been censured,” PM Modi added.

Muslims represent about 27 per cent of Bengal’s inhabitants and, in earlier elections, they had been a dependable vote financial institution for Ms Banerjee. On this ballot although, the entry of two Muslim leaders – AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and a non secular chief from Furfura Sharif – has sophisticated issues.

The Chief Minister has been overtly important about each – linking them to the BJP and its makes an attempt, she says, to separate Muslim votes and be sure that it doesn’t come to her occasion.

“A traitor has emerged from Furfura Sharif who has taken cash from the BJP. It’s essential to keep in mind you (the BJP) cannot win in Bengal by way of treachery,” she had stated.

The Election Commission and Ms Banerjee have sparred a number of occasions over the course of a crass marketing campaign, together with final week, when she was warned over a “factually incorrect” complaint.

Ms Banerjee had visited a polling sales space at Nandigram – the scene of her 2011 triumph and from the place she is taking over protege-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari this yr.

Whereas there she was caught inside a room as BJP and Trinamool supporters confronted off exterior. Ms Banerjee accused the ballot physique of failing to take care of regulation and order throughout polling.

The Fee hit again and stated Ms Banerjee’s motion had been fraught with “immense potential to have antagonistic impact on the regulation and order throughout West Bengal and possibly in another states”.

Bengal votes subsequent on April 10, with 4 extra phases after that. Outcomes shall be declared Might 2.

With enter from PTI