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This story is from January 21, 2021

EC team in West Bengal: BJP seeks central forces, Trinamool petitions against BSF

EC team in West Bengal: BJP seeks central forces, Trinamool petitions against BSF
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh speaks to media after meeting EC officials. (ANI)
NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress and the BJP on Thursday petitioned the full bench of Election Commission of India. They also traded charges against each other ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
The Election Commission of India team, led by CEC Sunil Arora, is in West Bengal to review preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections.
While the BJP sought deployment of central forces in the state at the earliest citing "sense of fear among people", the ruling Trinamool lodged a complaint against the Border Security Force (BSF).

The Trinamool accused the BSF of threatening people in border areas to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party, a charge strongly denied by the force.
'Allegations against BSF are without any basis'
"BSF is a professional Border Guarding Force which has in the past, and also in the present, guarded our international borders with total sincerity and dedication. We have actively checked on illegal infiltration and smuggling and brought to the book criminals involved in such activities," the BSF said in a statement.
"The statements given by West Bengal ministers Partho Chatterjee and Firhad Hakim levelling allegations against BSF are without any basis and far from any truth. BSF stands firmly committed to its motto 'Duty Unto Death' at all times," it said.

'Trinamool petitions ECI against BSF'
Earlier today, a delegation of Trinamool leaders met the full EC bench to raise the party's concerns ahead of the assembly elections.
"We have informed the CEC and other ECI officials that BSF is threatening voters in the border areas. We have received inputs that officers of the paramilitary force are visiting various villages and asking people to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party. This is a dangerous situation and the ECI must look into it," TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee told reporters after meeting the ECI delegation.
Chatterjee also alleged that the BSF personnel were telling the villagers that "none but us will remain in the border areas throughout the year to look after you".
BJP seeks deployment of central forces
West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh urged the Election Commission of India to deploy central forces in the state at the earliest. He claimed that there is a 'sense of fear' among people ahead of elections.
"Election Commission entire team is here to inspect arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections. As an opposition party, we have urged them to ensure an environment in which people can exercise their franchise in a neutral and peaceful environment. It is important the Central Forces are deployed here soon," he said after the meeting.
Ghosh said that there is an 'environment of fear' in Bengal during elections and claimed that violence was reported in all 42 parliamentary constituencies in the state during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
He also suggested that Central Forces must be deployed inside polling booths and State police outside for free and fair polls.
'Rohigya included in voter list'
The BJP also informed the ECI about the abnormal rise in the number of voters possibly due to the inclusion of infiltrators in the list.
"We are certain that names of Rohingyas have been included in the voter's list in border areas, ECI must look into this," state BJP chief said.
Reating to the BJP's charge, Trinamool Congress said: "We told the Election Commission that it is direct blame on you since you make the list."
'BJP spreading hatred'
The TMC also complained to the ECI about alleged communal speeches made by the BJP leaders to spread hate.
"We requested EC to take note of it. We all want peaceful & fair elections. This 'goli maro' etc is provocation to divide the society. They are terrorising people to vote for them," TMC leader Firhad Hakim said.
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