Kolkata: Taking a ‘serious note' of the Nov 24 agitation at the Bengal chief electoral officers' office, the Election Commission on Wednesday sought a report from the Kolkata police commissioner within 48 hours. CM Mamata Banerjee, however, backed the agitating BLOs, saying their "demands were justified" and questioned why the Bengal CEO took 48 hours to hear them out.
Earlier in the day, the EC wrote to police commissioner Manoj Varma, reporting that a "serious security breach has occurred at the office of the chief electoral officer, West Bengal." The poll body said that the "existing security in the office of the CEO appeared to be inadequate to handle the situation." The letter, signed by EC secretary Sujeet Kumar Mishra, apprehended that such incidents "could lead to a threat to the safety and security of the CEO, additional CEOs, joint CEOs, deputy CEOs, and other officers and staff working in the office."
The EC asked the Kolkata top cop to "take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of officers and staff posted in the office of the CEO, at their residences, and while commuting to and fro." The EC also asked commissioner Varma to consider the "sensitivity involved due to SIR activities and forthcoming elections" and "ensure that no untoward incident occurs again."
CM Banerjee, speaking to reporters later, backed the agitating BLOs, saying: "They are dying everywhere. Their demands are justified. Can you imagine that they had to sit for 48 hours just for a meeting?... When I was returning from Bongaon on Tuesday, some people wanted to speak to me, and I heard their grievances and did what was necessary. But why should the BLOs wait for 48 hours just to make their case heard? What kind of arrogance is this?" asked the CM.
Taking a dig at Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal as a "small leader" (alluding to the TMC's claims of an alleged pro-BJP bias), the CM said, urging the BLO: "You should not die by suicide because life is very precious, yet they have no mercy and took 48 hours just to meet the BLOs and listen to them. Look at the audacity of a small leader! (State CEO)."
The CM claimed that the state had records regarding each SIR-related death. "We have the records of all the deaths. Who is responsible for the BLO deaths in Gujarat and MP? BJP is in power there. Why are they rushing the SIR? Are they all saints? They are threatening the BLOs by saying their jobs will be taken away. Who will save your jobs when you are threatening others?" asked Banerjee.