EC illegally using mobile apps developed by BJP’s IT cell to conduct SIR: Mamata

GANGASAGAR (WB), Jan 6: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday escalated her confrontation with the Election Commission, alleging that the poll panel was illegally using mobile applications developed by the BJP’s IT cell to conduct the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in the state.
The BJP rejected the charge as baseless and politically motivated.
Speaking to reporters before concluding her two-day visit to Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district to review preparations for the annual Gangasagar Mela, Banerjee accused the EC of adopting what she described as “wrong, unconstitutional and undemocratic” methods in carrying out the revision exercise ahead of next year’s assembly elections.
“The EC is resorting to all kinds of wrong moves for conducting the SIR. It is marking eligible voters as dead, and forcing the elderly, ill and indisposed to attend hearings. It is making use of mobile apps developed by the BJP’s IT cell for the exercise. This is illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic. This cannot go on,” the chief minister alleged.
Her remarks marked the sharpest charge yet in a rapidly intensifying standoff between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and the poll panel over the SIR, an exercise mandated periodically to update and verify electoral rolls, but has turned out to be politically contentious in West Bengal.
Banerjee’s fresh allegations came on a day when senior TMC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission, accusing it of taking recourse to “arbitrary and procedurally irregular actions” while conducting the revision.
Addressing reporters, Banerjee appealed to the public to exercise caution while participating in the revision process.
“I urge the people to remain careful while participating in SIR. They must stand beside those who need help. They don’t need to support me; support only those who are in trouble because of this exercise,” she said.
The chief minister alleged that names of genuine voters were being struck off arbitrarily, creating fear and confusion at the grassroots.
The TMC supremo claimed that even bedridden elderly citizens were being compelled to appear before officials as part of the verification process. (PTI)