Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that Delhi Police was intimidating and harassing people from Bengal who had come to the national capital for living.
A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee arrived in New Delhi on Monday and will meet the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with a list of objections to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in poll-bound West Bengal.
Ahead of the meeting, Mamata Banerjee visited Banga Bhawan in Delhi, alleging that people from Bengal were being intimidated by Delhi Police. She said families affected by SIR had been brought to the capital to seek justice and were now facing pressure.
“They are torturing Bengal’s people. I will not tell anything to Delhi Police because they are working under orders,” Mamata said, adding that sufferers would speak directly to the media. She announced a press conference for the next day in which affected families would narrate their experiences.
According to Trinamool Congress, nearly 30 families were staying at Banga Bhawan on Hailey Road, while around 100 families were housed across two Banga Bhawan facilities. Most of them, the party said, were from Malda and Murshidabad and had lost close relatives allegedly due to SIR-related actions.
On camera, Mamata was seen confronting Delhi Police personnel deployed outside Banga Bhawan. “Why are you here? Why are you threatening our people? They have come to seek justice. Please stop torturing the simple village folks,” she told officers, alleging that the deployment was meant to create fear and restrict movement.
The Chief Minister questioned why families from Bengal could not come to Delhi and speak to the media despite having appointments. “We came here with an appointment. Don’t the aggrieved have the right to speak?” she said, while accusing the police of acting on instructions.
Reacting to Mamata Banerjee’s claim, the Delhi Police sources told India Today that there’s no restriction of movement for anyone at any of the Banga Bhawans.
“Security personnel have been deployed purely as a preventive measure to maintain law and order and pre-empt any untoward incident or unwarranted disturbance,” they added.
In a media statement, TMC said Mamata’s sudden visit was prompted by “heavy Delhi Police deployment outside Banga Bhawan since morning to restrict our movement and create an environment of intimidation and surveillance.” The party said the chief minister also criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the role of Delhi Police.
“It is sad that the Centre has deployed forces outside both our Banga Bhawans. People whose family members died due to SIR are now being guarded,” Mamata said. She even appealed to Home Minister Amit Shah not to “show muscle power” and reminded that central leaders were welcomed respectfully when they visited Bengal.
“When the Home Minister comes to Bengal, we give him the red carpet. But when we come to Delhi, you give us the black carpet… Please restrain yourself from the atrocities, from the torture of the Bengal people who have lost their lives,” she said.
DELHI POLICE RESPONDS TO CHARGES
Reacting to Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress’s allegations, Delhi Police said that security personnel have been deployed purely as a preventive measure to maintain law and order.
“There’s no restriction of movement for anyone at any of the Banga Bhawans. Security personnel have been deployed purely as a preventive measure to maintain law and order and pre-empt any untoward incident or unwarranted disturbance,” sources in Delhi Police said.
