KMC poll: Mamata rubbishes Oppn charges
25 April 2015 6:20 AM IST
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday refuted the opposition’s charge of malpractices in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections, saying that 32 companies of central forces would be coming for Saturday’s election to 91 municipalities across the state.
“Thirty-two companies of central forces are coming. The state government today received communication with regard to availability of central forces. It has been stated that they will be undertaking patrolling duty in poll-bound municipalities and will not be manning booths. They are being sent at the last moment. Even then I thank them,” she said.
Rubbishing allegation of malpractices during KMC poll held on April 18, she said, “Democracy has returned after 34 years (of Left Front rule), that is why criticism is being made. A section of media is giving wrong news to the people. A conspiracy has been hatched.”
Banerjee said of the 4,646 booths in KMC, complaints had come from only 10-12 booths.
The state administration has done very well during the KMC poll. Prompt action was taken whenever a complaint was received.
“I have never seen such a peaceful election. I am the (state) Home minister. You cannot show me a single instance where there was bloodshed and vote loot during the poll. Don’t make one-sided allegation, there is no proof. Whatever had happened at Singhibagan area had happened after the election was over. Some arrests were also made,” Banerjee said.
“During the Left Front regime, goons used to carry guns on roads when an election was held. We want peaceful polls and none should get provoked,” she said.
A sub-inspector of police was allegedly shot at and injured at Singhibagan area soon after the end of polls for the city civic board on April 18.
TMC won’t support land bill, says Mamata
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) will not support the Land Bill proposed by the Narendra Modi-led government, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Friday. “We won’t support the Land Acquisition Bill. We have made our stand clear in Parliament. I sat on a hunger strike for 26 days against forcible land acquisition,” she said. “It was our movement against forcible land acquisition, which sparked the demand for abolition of the draconian Land Acquisition Act of 1894,” said Banerjee, whose TMC shepherded land acquisition protests in Nandigram and Singur. She said if anybody wanted to part with his land, it could be through negotiation. She also termed as “unfortunate” the death of farmer Gajendra Singh who committed suicide during an AAP rally in Delhi.
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