Mamata Banerjee accuses EC, BJP of 'undermining democracy', says 'next target could be citizenship via NRC'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the BJP and the Election Commission of India ECI of allegedly undermining democracy in the countryShe alleged that the next move of Centre could be attempts to revoke citizensrsquo rights through the NRCCM Banerjee made the remarks while launching her campaign for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections from politically crucial North Bengal a region that has emerged as a BJP stronghold since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections reported PTIAddressing a rally in Maynaguri Jalpaiguri district the TMC supremo alleged that constitutional institutions were being used to snatch away peoples voting rights through the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rollsBanerjee accuses BJP Centre and EC of undermining democracyThe EC BJP and the Centre are not following the Constitution They are trying to snatch away voting rights Banerjee said at her first major campaign rally for the polls reported PTIDrawing a sharp political contrast with the hour of Indias Independence she claimed that the release of the supplementary electoral list had triggered a ldquomidnight rampagerdquoWe got Independence at midnight and we feel proud of it But today they have forgotten Independence They are not following the Constitution or democracy They are snatching away peoples voting rights she said the news agency reportedBanerjee warns BJP may target citizenship next through NRCToday they are snatching away voting rights tomorrow they will snatch away citizenship by bringing the NRC she warnedBanerjee alleged that several communities including Rajbanshis and women were being affected by the revision of electoral rollsRajbanshi names have been removed through SIR Womens names are also being removed Removing the name of one woman means removing the name of the entire womenfolk she said seeking to mobilise women voters who form a crucial support base for the ruling partyIn a dramatic escalation of rhetoric Banerjee claimed that the electoral roll exercise had already caused distress among peopleBanerjee claims 220 deaths in Bengal linked to SIR exerciseDue to SIR 220 people have died in Bengal since the exercise began in November Their souls are crying today BJP must remember they will have to answer Banerjee claimedAccusing the BJP of branding longtime residents as foreigners Banerjee said After living on this soil for so long you are calling us foreigners and asking us to prove our citizenship First you prove whether you are a citizen of this country then challenge the peopleWithout naming Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah Banerjee told the crowd to bid farewell to this gentleman here and the two gentlemen in DelhiNorth Bengal particularly Jalpaiguri Alipurduar and Cooch Behar has been a key battleground between the TMC and the BJP since the saffron partys surge in the region in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when it swept most seats and built a formidable organisational base among communities such as the RajbanshisAgainst that backdrop Banerjee combined sharp political attacks with welfare messaging aimed at consolidating the TMCs core support groupsIf you want tea gardens to remain open vote for Trinamool Congress she saidldquoWe do not merely make promises we implement themrdquo says West Bengal CMThe TMC supremo also highlighted schemes such as Lakshmir Bhandar Swasthya Sathi and free ration presenting them as examples of the TMC governments welfare model We do not merely make promises we implement them she saidBanerjee said the state government had arranged crop insurance for potato farmers who suffered losses due to unseasonal rains in Jalpaiguri and neighbouring districtsThe chief minister also criticised the BJPled Centre over rising fuel prices and alleged restrictions on LPG cylinder bookingsBanerjee questions Centre over soaring petrol cooking gas shortagesThe price of petrol is rising Now they say that after booking a gas cylinder it may take 35 days How will people cook she askedBanerjee also urged her party candidates to take lawyers with them while filing nomination papers alleging that nominations had been cancelled in BJPruled AssamI do not have faith in the BJP and the Election Commission Our candidates should take lawyers with them and check every document carefully she saidIn a pitch aimed directly at women voters Banerjee invoked the role of women in resisting political pressure Mothers and sisters should come forward if anyone tries to capture booths she saidChief Minister highlights attacks on cultural and linguistic freedomsTaking a swipe at the BJP Banerjee accused the party of trying to dictate food habits and language In some states people are beaten for eating fish or meat They even beat up people for speaking Bengali We respect every religion language and community she said the news agency reportedSeeking to strike an emotive note with voters the chief minister asserted that the people of Bengal remain her biggest strengthThey have taken everything away from me Now I have only one thing the people she saidElections for the 294member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29 The results will be declared on May 4With PTI inputs