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Kolkata, Oct 31 (IANS) Trinamool Congress on Friday issued a statement accusing the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly of threatening booth level officers (BLOs) in West Bengal, citing the example of BLOs from neighboring state Bihar, where several BLOs were put behind bars during the recently concluded Special Intensive Review (SIR).
“In a shocking display of arrogance, the opposition leader threatened the BLOs by warning them that if they failed to follow the “instructions”, he would arrest them. He even claimed that 52 BLOs in Bihar were in jail and that Bengal BLOs would also meet the same fate if they did not toe the line,” said the statement issued by the Trinamool Congress.
Trinamool Congress had posted this statement on the wall of its social media handles, and attached a video where the opposition leader was heard speaking on these lines while talking to media persons recently.
However, IANS was not in a position to verify the authenticity of the video.
“This is nothing less than criminal intimidation of government officials in the midst of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) process, which is an attempt to spread fear and disrupt the fair conduct of elections. Such behavior not only violates the law but attacks the very foundation of India’s democracy,” the Trinamool Congress statement said.
The state’s ruling party had also requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take immediate cognizance of the matter and file an FIR against Suvendu Adhikari for his illegal conduct.
However, a BJP state committee member said the Trinamool Congress was misinterpreting what the opposition leader wanted to say.
“BLOs are bound to follow the directions of the ECI, and there are legal provisions for disciplinary action against any BLO who fails to follow the same and acts in a biased manner on behalf of any political party. In Bihar, this is exactly what happened, and only the BLOs who made mistakes were punished. There is no question of punishment for those BLOs who do their work diligently and as per the norms. The leader of the opposition simply reminded this, ” said the state committee member.
–IANS
Source/PGH