Didi erupts as visit halted; mocks MCC as ‘BJP code’
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday described the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct (MCC) as the “BJP Code of Conduct … or BCC” after she failed to visit the aggrieved family of the four villagers who were shot dead by the Central paramilitary forces at a polling booth at Shitalkuchi in Cooch Behar due to the 72-hour ban imposed by the EC on the visit of any political leader to the district.
The Trinamul Congress chief also called the killings a “mass murder” in a virulent attack on the EC and the BJP after speaking to the victims’ relatives and standing by them during a phone conversation. She also assured them of government compensation for each family.
At Siliguri in North Bengal, the CM alleged Sunday morning: “We were supposed to visit Shitalkuchi. I wanted to stand by the victims’ families. But you can see what is happening. They did not allow us anyway to meet the family members of those who were killed.
Such a forcible decision is unprecedented. I respect the EC. But everything cannot be changed in the interest of a particular party. A system cannot be changed. It has to be maintained. The institution can continue forever. Yes, they can do anything. But there must be something which is essential for democracy and a free and fair election.”
She claimed: “Since the ban is for 72 hours, I wait because of the MCC. I will visit the families on April 14, though I think the MCC has become the BJP Code of Conduct now. It will do whatever they will ask it to do. Why will campaigns not be allowed for 24 hours? Just because the BJP’s last date of campaign is April 13. I cannot be restricted in this way.”
Wearing a black robe to protest against the killings of the four at a rally in Jalpaiguri later, the TMC chief said: “On Saturday the BJP government, using its police, took the lives of four people by shooting them. All the bullets hit the upper parts of the victims. There has been no bigger mass murder and murder of democracy than this. I condemn this. I condemn Union home minister Amit Shah, the Government of India and those who carried it out.”
Ms Banerjee said the state government’s compensation for the victims’ families will be announced by chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay.
“Permission has been sought (from the EC). Now permission is required for everything, even helping the family of someone killed!” she quipped, adding that her party leaders and workers would also contribute to raise funds that would be donated to the families.
Later Sunday, the bodies of the four victims, after post-mortems, were brought to Jor Patki village in Shitalkuchi for the last rites, amid a pall of gloom.
◗ LATER SUNDAY, the bodies of the four victims, after post-mortems, were brought to Jor Patki village in Shitalkuchi for the last rites, amid a pall of gloom