The full bench of the Election Commission will land in Bengal on Sunday to take stock of the law and order situation and the Lok Sabha poll preparations in the state rocked by the recent Sandeshkhali violence case, a senior official told news agency PTI. The poll body will also hold a meeting with political parties in the state and have discussions with the district magistrates and police superintendents, the official added.
The team's visit is "primarily to take stock of the law and order situation and preparedness ahead of the Lok Sabha polls", the official told the news agency, adding that "the full bench will also hold a meeting with the chief electoral officer here.”
The visit comes as Bengal has been on the boil over the recent unrest in Sandeshkhali, located on the fringes of the Sunderbans. The main accused in the case, involving allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing, TMC strongman Shajahan Sheikh, was arrested on Thursday after being on the run for nearly two months.
Soon after his arrest, Sheikh, the party convenor of the Sandeshkhali assembly constituency and also a member of the TMC-held North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad, was suspended by the party for six years.
Prime Minister Modi also lashed out at the Mamata government over the unrest and said the entire country was ashamed of the developments in the state.
Taking on the TMC government over corruption charges, he said, "It is my guarantee that those who have looted public funds will face consequences."
"The whole country is sad and is seething with anger after seeing what the TMC, which beats the drum of Maa, Mati, and Manush, has done to the sisters of Sandeshkhali. The TMC leader crossed all limits of audacity with the sisters and daughters in Sandeshkhali. What TMC has done to the sisters of Sandeshkhali is a matter of shame," he said.
The Prime Minister added, "Even the soul of Raja Ram Mohan Roy would be petrified after what has happened to the sisters and mothers of Sandeshkhali. His soul must be crying today. The TMC has to answer for the atrocities."
Addressing the public on the issue, he urged the people to respond to the atrocities through their votes. He said, "Will you forgive such a party, will you forgive TMC? You have to reply to every pain that they have caused to you through your votes," he said.