What Happened During the Bengal SIR Process Involving Trinamool Workers?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Tension escalated at the SDO office in Hooghly.
- Trinamool Congress activists were involved in alleged vandalism of Form-7 applications.
- Claims of undemocratic actions by BJP members were made.
- Police response to the incident was criticized.
- The incident highlights ongoing political tensions in West Bengal.
Kolkata, Jan 19 (NationPress) A tense situation unfolded at the sub-divisional officer's (SDO) office in Hooghly district, West Bengal, on Monday. This occurred when a contingent of Trinamool Congress members, spearheaded by the party's legislator from Chinsurah Assembly, Asit Majumdar, arrived while hearings concerning claims and objections on the draft voters’ list were underway.
Reports indicate that several activists from the ruling party even vandalized some Form-7 applications, which are used to remove voters' names due to various reasons, including death, directly in front of the legislator.
Majumdar refuted witnessing the destruction of Form-7 applications by his supporters but asserted that they protested against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members who were allegedly submitting these forms on behalf of others in a manner deemed undemocratic.
The situation escalated into chaos at the SDO office, with scuffles erupting between Trinamool Congress and BJP activists.
Some voters present expressed frustration over the police's passive stance, noting the absence of any intervention to restore order.
“How can we stand by while attempts to forcibly remove legitimate voters from the list occur? They are infringing upon the democratic rights of the people. Just yesterday, Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar claimed that 1.26 lakh voters had been struck off the Hooghly Lok Sabha's list. How could he know that? Are electoral officials acting as his agents?” Majumdar questioned.
The BJP’s leadership in Hooghly accused the Trinamool Congress of consistently obstructing the submission of Form-7 applications, asserting that the ruling party aimed to retain names of deceased, duplicate, or shifted voters to facilitate fraudulent voting during elections.
“The disturbance caused by the Trinamool Congress today was orchestrated and in collusion with certain district administration members. It’s disgraceful that an elected representative from the ruling party led this disorderly conduct,” stated Suresh Saha, a local BJP leader.