Trinamool Mahila Congress kicks off dharna against BJP's demand

Kolkata: Chandrima Bhattacharya, president of Trinamool Mahila Congress, said on Friday that by raising the demand to declare all the booths in the state as 'super sensitive', BJP has actually insulted the people of Bengal, particularly the womenfolk.

She was addressing a gathering assembled at the dharna organised by the women's wing of the party on Rani Rashmoni Avenue on Friday.

She said BJP has been insulting Bengal on one pretext or the other. "A caretaker government is being run in Delhi. The Law minister who had raised the demand to declare all the booths in Bengal as super sensitive, does not know the implication of the demand," Bhattacharya said.

"There are 77,000 odd booths in Bengal and 50% of the voters are women. Then are we to believe that the women were engaged in fighting as well? It is an insult to the women in Bengal," she added.

She said BJP is circulating lies on social media to create confusion among the people. "Their leaders seldom speak the truth and they think that by creating confusion they can reap some benefit," she said.

Meanwhile, Shashi Panja, minister of state for Women and Child Welfare and Social Development, said over the past few years in Bengal election is being observed as a festival. "It is a festival of democracy. Before 2011 when there was Left Front rule, people could not cast their votes. But now the situation has changed and the voters come out and stand in long queues to exercise their rights. This is being reflected in the heavy turnout of voters," said Panja.

She alleged that BJP was trying to "create unnecessary tension to scare the people," adding: "In areas where there is no tension, BJP is circulating fake news to show that the law and order in a particular area has collapsed. BJP is trying to reap benefit by creating confusion among the people."

Panja said BJP has destroyed the sanctity of the institutions in the country set up by the Indian Constitution. "For 42 seats in Lok Sabha, there will be a seven phase election in Bengal. People will have to stand in queues braving the heat in April- May. The people have understood BJP's gameplan and this will be reflected in the ballot," she said.