 "Modi questions poll panel impartiality at Bengal rally")
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the Election Commission (EC) for failing to prevent rigging and violence in West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Taking on the poll panel, which had earlier ordered the filing of a First Information Report against him for violating election laws in Gujarat, Modi dared the EC to file another case against him for raising the issue.
“I am making a serious complaint against the Election Commission publicly from Asansol. If the commission, in its role of an umpire, has the guts to conduct a free and fair poll in the remaining two phases, it must listen to me carefully,” Modi said while addressing an election rally at Asansol in West Bengal.
“Once again I am saying that in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal, the same thing will happen, rigging and violence. You have the machinery, why don’t you do your duty? If the EC doesn’t like what I am saying, they can file another case against me,” he added.
Modi also said the poll panel should not work on the basis of “which government has appointed it”. “The entire machinery is in your hands, you have more power than even the Prime Minister. Then why aren’t you doing your duties? What are you thinking?” he asked.
The Opposition parties in Bengal had complained of rigging by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the April 30 polls for nine seats in the state, seeking a repoll in many booths. The poll panel, however, rejected the demand, declaring the polls “free, fair and peaceful”.
Also on Sunday, Modi retorted to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s “paper tiger” jibe by raking up the Saradha issue. “You (Mamata) are talking about the tiger. If you had put the Saradha chit fund culprits in jail, conducted a probe and ensured the poor got their money back, I would have admitted you were a tiger. A tiger never tries to save thieves and looters,” Modi said, addressing an election meeting in Bankura in West Bengal.
“I am confused, didi. You are so afraid of this paper tiger. Had a real tiger come before you, what would have happened to you? When a paper tiger is proving so tough, when you know the strength of a real tiger, what will be your condition, didi?” he added.
“Didi has bad-mouthed me, launched attacks and levelled false charges. But let me assure you that I will serve the people of Bengal and work for them. I believe in politics of change and not revenge,” Modi said.
Modi also alleged that the Congress, Left and TMC made friendship in Delhi but claimed enmity in Bengal. “Didn’t they eat from the same plate in the United Progressive Alliance-I government? In Delhi, they do the politics of friendship,” he said.
Lashing out at the TMC for claiming to be a do-gooder for Muslims, he said the minority community was far better off in his state, Gujarat, than Bengal. “Muslims in Bengal have to force the TMC government to do politics of development for them instead of indulging in votebank politicsm,” he said.
Modi also clarified his comment on Bangladeshi immigrants in the country, making a distinction between infiltrators and refugees. He said while those who forced themselves into India illegally would have to go back, people who had been driven out from the neighbouring nation because of their religion would be welcomed. “The BJP’s position is very clear. Votebank politics has destroyed the country. Those who are Bangladeshi infiltrators, will have to go back,” he said.
Taking on the poll panel, which had earlier ordered the filing of a First Information Report against him for violating election laws in Gujarat, Modi dared the EC to file another case against him for raising the issue.
“I am making a serious complaint against the Election Commission publicly from Asansol. If the commission, in its role of an umpire, has the guts to conduct a free and fair poll in the remaining two phases, it must listen to me carefully,” Modi said while addressing an election rally at Asansol in West Bengal.
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The Congress on Sunday claimed the Gujarat Police was trying to “hush up” the case registered against Modi for poll code violation and urged the EC to transfer the case to an agency outside the state.
“Once again I am saying that in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal, the same thing will happen, rigging and violence. You have the machinery, why don’t you do your duty? If the EC doesn’t like what I am saying, they can file another case against me,” he added.
Modi also said the poll panel should not work on the basis of “which government has appointed it”. “The entire machinery is in your hands, you have more power than even the Prime Minister. Then why aren’t you doing your duties? What are you thinking?” he asked.
The Opposition parties in Bengal had complained of rigging by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the April 30 polls for nine seats in the state, seeking a repoll in many booths. The poll panel, however, rejected the demand, declaring the polls “free, fair and peaceful”.
Also on Sunday, Modi retorted to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s “paper tiger” jibe by raking up the Saradha issue. “You (Mamata) are talking about the tiger. If you had put the Saradha chit fund culprits in jail, conducted a probe and ensured the poor got their money back, I would have admitted you were a tiger. A tiger never tries to save thieves and looters,” Modi said, addressing an election meeting in Bankura in West Bengal.
“I am confused, didi. You are so afraid of this paper tiger. Had a real tiger come before you, what would have happened to you? When a paper tiger is proving so tough, when you know the strength of a real tiger, what will be your condition, didi?” he added.
“Didi has bad-mouthed me, launched attacks and levelled false charges. But let me assure you that I will serve the people of Bengal and work for them. I believe in politics of change and not revenge,” Modi said.
Modi also alleged that the Congress, Left and TMC made friendship in Delhi but claimed enmity in Bengal. “Didn’t they eat from the same plate in the United Progressive Alliance-I government? In Delhi, they do the politics of friendship,” he said.
Lashing out at the TMC for claiming to be a do-gooder for Muslims, he said the minority community was far better off in his state, Gujarat, than Bengal. “Muslims in Bengal have to force the TMC government to do politics of development for them instead of indulging in votebank politicsm,” he said.
Modi also clarified his comment on Bangladeshi immigrants in the country, making a distinction between infiltrators and refugees. He said while those who forced themselves into India illegally would have to go back, people who had been driven out from the neighbouring nation because of their religion would be welcomed. “The BJP’s position is very clear. Votebank politics has destroyed the country. Those who are Bangladeshi infiltrators, will have to go back,” he said.