• Model code should be called ‘Modi Code of Conduct’, Mamata hits out at poll panel 
    Indian Express | 9 May 2024
  • West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has converted the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) to “Modi code of conduct”, as it has not taken any action over the hate speeches made by the BJP leaders and workers during the election campaigns.

    Addressing an election rally at Purulia, the CM claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the other top BJP leaders consider only themselves as Hindus and do not think about other communities. PM Modi and other BJP leaders, through their “hate-filled speeches” are intimidating lower caste Hindus, minorities and other marginalised sections, but the Election Commission is silent and is unlikely to take any action, she said.

    “In Uttar Pradesh, minorities are being obstructed from casting their votes and were thrashed. The EC’s Model Code of Conduct should be rechristened as Modi code of conduct. Some people are working as BJP agents. But they do not have the power to do this in Bengal. If they do not allow five people to vote, five crore will rise against them. There can be no elections amid violence,” said Banerjee.

    “But we will continue to flag every incident of violation of rights of citizens of this country,” she further said.

    Hitting out at the BJP, Banerjee alleged that the BJP is offering cash to tribal people to win their votes. “They had also offered cash to the mothers of Sandeshkhali as part of their conspiracy to defame Bengal and its women. But they misjudged Bengal’s women, their dignity and self-respect,” she said while speaking at another election rally in Bankura district.

    Continuing her tirade at PM Modi, Banerjee said she has not seen any PM who lies to his countrymen. Raising the slogan “Modi Hatao Desh bachao”, she alleged that the BJP is conspiring to implement the Uniform Civil Code which will make SCs, STs, OBCs and Muslims lose their identity.

    She asked, “What happened to his 2014 promise of giving Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every citizen? What happened to his promise to give free LPG gases? What happened to his ‘Beti Banchao Beti Padao’ project?” “In every village, BJP leaders are making a false promise of giving Rs 3000 to every poor woman under the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ scheme. Remember, the BJP has withheld 100 days wage to the poor in Bengal for three years. The BJP is also not releasing a single paisa for rice, we have shouldered the entire amount so that our poor don’t feel the crunch,” she added.

    The TMC chief highlighted that the BJP makes claims and promises before the elections, and those are not fulfilled after the polls. “They have been writing on village walls that they will give Rs 3,000 under Annapurna Bhandar. But have they given anything under ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao?’, Mithyaguru only resorts to lies! They don’t even give funds for ration or MGNREGA and Awas Yojana funds…. Ahead of elections, BJP makes tall claims and lofty promises but after the polls are over, they are nowhere to be seen. They are only present here during elections,” she said.

    — With PTI inputs

     

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