West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday pledged to “protect democracy” in India and slammed the BJP government at the Centre for attacking democracy and religion, raising questions on citizenship and voting rights, and for “rushing” the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the country.
“Today, when democracy and religion are being attacked, and questions are being raised on citizenship and voting rights, we must ask ourselves: do we have to give proof of our citizenship? NRC [National Register of Citizens] is behind this. We are shocked and saddened by this. This is why I take a pledge here today to protect India’s democracy, which is the biggest,” Banerjee said, after offering tributes to a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in Kolkata on the occasion of Constitution Day.
“Do one thing [BJP], send 4 crore notices and we will still fight you! I condemn them for what they are doing. They have pushed the nation so low. Where is neutrality? There is only unfairness and partisanship,” she said.
Banerjee, who warned the BJP that it would lose power soon, also spoke up in defence of the thousands of block level officers (BLOs) in West Bengal who are scrambling to complete the SIR process. “BLOs are dying everywhere. Their demands are justified. Can you imagine that they had to sit for 48 hours just for a meeting?” she asked, referring to a protest staged by members of the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee outside the West Bengal chief electoral officer’s (CEO’s) office over “excessive work pressure”.
“You (BLO) 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]! 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?” she said.
Banerjee said that the SIR work could be completed within two months. “How can you complete the work of three years in two months? This is farming season. Even the distribution figures of the enumeration forms are wrong. We will follow the Constitution and work as per it. Whatever guidance the freedom fighters have given us, we will follow their guidelines and not the BJP’s guidelines,” she added.
Taking a dig at the BJP, Banerjee said, “We did not get freedom because of the mercy of those in power today [BJP], we got it because of the freedom fighters. Ninety per cent were Bengali, while Punjab also made one of the biggest contributions. It was Bengal that brought renaissance and revolution to India.”
“Are they trying to destroy Bengal’s identity? We are a part of India, and we are proud to say that Bengal has always fought for democracy, secularism, and unity in diversity. We are saddened to see democratic rights being taken away and division happening everywhere on religious grounds,” she added.
Accusing the BJP of “pushing people to the verge of dying” because of the citizenship issue, Banerjee said, “Those who are doing politics with this, it is a shame! People’s houses have been demolished in Bihar. This is the BJP’s trick, to loot after the polls. We have to unite against this. If we cannot say Jai Hind and Vande Mataram and if they disrespect Raja Rammohan Roy, is this acceptable? You are disrespecting our land! A leader is one who understands and respects people. All agencies have been complicit!”