Did BJP’s IT Cell Design the App Used by ECI for SIR in Bengal? - Mamata Banerjee
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mamata Banerjee alleges the ECI app was designed by the BJP's IT cell.
- She highlights serious issues with the SIR process.
- Banerjee plans to take legal action against the ECI.
- Demands for transparency in electoral processes are emphasized.
Kolkata, Jan 6 (NationPress) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed on Tuesday that the application employed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the current Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state was developed by the Information Technology Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“The entire SIR process is rife with inaccuracies. Frequently, living voters are incorrectly listed as deceased. Elderly individuals and those with serious health issues are being unjustly called for hearings. The application utilized by the Commission during the SIR procedure has been crafted by the BJP’s IT cell. This is illegal, unconstitutional, and undemocratic,” the Chief Minister stated while addressing the press at Sagar Islands in South 24 Parganas.
Chief Minister Banerjee has been particularly outspoken regarding the ECI's handling of the SIR. On Sunday, she sent a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, detailing various concerns about the SIR process.
On Monday, she announced her intention to present her case at the Supreme Court (SC) against the ongoing SIR, emphasizing the “plight” of citizens due to the exercise being conducted in an “unplanned” manner.
“We are pursuing a legal path regarding the SIR exercise. The Supreme Court will resume from Tuesday after a recess. If required, I will personally represent the case at the SC. I hold a law degree, which enables me to advocate at the apex court,” Chief Minister Banerjee remarked at a governmental event in Sagar Islands on Monday.
However, she clarified that she would be appearing before the Supreme Court not as a lawyer but as an ordinary citizen. She also expressed that the activities being conducted under the guise of SIR in West Bengal are nothing short of harassment for the general populace.
She further accused the CEC of managing the ECI via WhatsApp messages and attempting to strip the residents of the state of their voting rights.