Targeting of Hindi-speaking Hindu Voters in Bengal for Voter List Scrutiny
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Synopsis
In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress is allegedly targeting Hindi-speaking Hindu voters and some Bengali-speaking voters from backward communities, as stated by Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari. Complaints reveal that these voters face pressure to prove their citizenship, sparking concerns about voter discrimination.
Key Takeaways
- Targeting of Hindi-speaking Hindu voters in West Bengal.
- Complaints about proving Indian citizenship.
- Accusations against two BDOs for voter harassment.
- Call for action from the Election Commission of India.
- Upcoming peaceful protests against voter intimidation.
Kolkata, March 24 (NationPress) The Hindi-speaking Hindu voters and even some Bengali-speaking voters from the marginalized communities are currently facing targeting by the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, as stated by the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, during a press briefing on Monday.
To back his claims, Adhikari pointed out several complaints that the BJP's state unit has received, indicating that these voters have been pressured to validate their Indian citizenship, specifically to demonstrate that they are not citizens of Bangladesh.
The incidents cited by Adhikari primarily pertain to Bagda in the North 24 Parganas district and Krishnanagar in the Nadia district, where two block development officers (BDOs) have been accused of intimidating ordinary voters in this manner.
“We are urging the Election Commission of India to take stringent action against these two BDOs. We have also informed our central leadership about this issue, and they will raise it on an appropriate platform. There seems to be a calculated move to target the Hindi-speaking Hindu voters and Bengali-speaking voters from backward communities,” the opposition leader remarked.
He noted that this initiative began when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee indirectly labeled Hindi-speaking voters as fraudulent during a public gathering in February this year.
“Following that, her party's machinery, in collusion with certain trusted officials in the administration, initiated actions against these voter groups. We will also be organizing peaceful protest rallies in areas where such harassment of innocent voters is occurring,” the Leader of the Opposition stated.
According to him, the ruling party has particularly focused on Hindi-speaking Hindu voters and some Bengali-speaking voters from backward communities because they have rejected the Trinamool Congress in recent elections.
"The ruling party is attempting to identify these voters and remove their names from the lists in collaboration with an outsourced agency,” the Leader of the Opposition alleged.
Recall, during a party event in February, Chief Minister Banerjee accused the BJP of employing two outsourced agencies to list voters from other states like Haryana and Gujarat as voters in West Bengal. She also announced the establishment of a core committee within the Trinamool Congress to identify such voters.
