Kolkata: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she may join the Cockroach Janata Party-sponsored protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10, which is demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She said, however, that a final decision on her participation would be taken later.
Speaking to reporters at NSC Bose International Airport before boarding a flight to the national capital to participate in the ongoing protests by the opposition INDIA bloc, Banerjee criticised the BJP and the Election Commission over alleged irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and alleged electoral malpractices in Bengal.
“I may join the protest at Jantar Mantar scheduled for October 10, but nothing can be confirmed now. We have maintained a relationship with them (the CJP) and have extended our support, while any further decision regarding our participation will be taken later,” Banerjee said.
Banerjee has repeatedly raised allegations of lakhs of unfair deletions from electoral rolls in the state. She accused the BJP and the Election Commission of being “hand in glove” in what she described as a “joint conspiracy to undermine the poll process” that resulted in a change of government in the state.
She reiterated her criticism of the BJP and the poll watchdog on Thursday.
“No election has ever taken place like the way it was conducted in Bengal. Have you ever heard anyone declaring before an election exactly how many votes they will win by? This clearly raises questions about calculated voting, bogus voting, rigging and vote looting. Such practices cannot continue for long, and no party can remain in power indefinitely by looting votes,” she said.
Banerjee said she considered it necessary to participate in the protests despite the festive season and Puja celebrations keeping people occupied.
“When people are raising their voices for an important cause, we must stand beside them, and our absence at such a crucial moment would not send the right message,” she said.
“Initially, I had decided not to attend the programme, but since my name was included and the organisers personally requested my presence, I decided that I should go, especially when a movement is already underway, and it would not be appropriate for us to remain absent at such an important time,” the former chief minister said.
Banerjee also expressed solidarity with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying the manner in which they were treated by Delhi Police during the October 6 protests was inappropriate.
“Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition, and protests are taking place across the country… Everyone has the right to take part in a movement, but the way Priyanka was treated was also very wrong,” she said.
She said women, mothers and children in every household deserve respect and protection regardless of political differences, adding that political movements should not result in family members being targeted or intimidated.
Banerjee said she planned to approach President Droupadi Murmu over the police action against opposition leaders and seek signatures and support from political leaders representing parties across the country.
“These concerns go beyond individual parties and require the attention of political leaders at the national level,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kunal Ghosh, spokesperson of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction, alleged on social media that there could have been an “intentional delay” in the flight carrying Banerjee to Delhi.
“Mamata Banerjee’s flight to Delhi was scheduled for 3:00 pm. We were then informed that it had been delayed to 3:45 pm. Now we have been told it will depart at 4:30 pm. There is no information on further delays. Is this an attempt to intentionally delay the programmes Didi had scheduled after reaching Delhi?” Ghosh wrote on X.