West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday downplayed the Election Commission notice slapped on her for an appeal to minorities not to split their votes.
TMC supremo hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi wondering as to how many complaints have been filed against him despite the fact that he tries to create a wedge between the Hindus and Muslims.
The TMC chief, who was speaking in the Domjur assembly constituency in the state’s Howrah district, sounded defiant in her tone stating “it hardly matters even if 10 show-cause notices are issued against me”.
“I am telling everyone to vote unitedly, there will no division. How many complaints have been filed against Narendra Modi? He does Hindu-Muslim every day,” she added questioning as to why no complaints have been lodged against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who indulge in the same tactics as the Prime Minister.
The Chief Minister hit out at her detractors and categorically stated that she stands by the members of all castes irrespective of their religion.
“How many complaints have been registered against those people who called Nandigram’s Muslims Pakistanis? Aren't they ashamed? They can't do anything against me. I am with Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians as well as tribals,” she said.
Banerjee also used the occasion to take potshots at Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“I respect the central forces. But I have zero respect for those who are puppets of the BJP and try to intimidate the mothers and sisters so that they vote for the BJP. Do not listen to Amit Shah. Do not listen to us either. But do your work properly,” Banerjee said.
“You are not allowing my (West Bengal) retired officers to work because you (Centre) think they are incompetent but you are allowing your retired officers to work. What kind of discrimination is this?” she asked.
Taking the ruling BJP at the Centre to task, the TMC supremo alleged “you have sold the country”.
“You have told the national media to lie about me. You filed a complaint against me,” she said.
READ: EC Slaps Notice On CM Mamata For 'Demanding Votes On Communal Ground', Seeks Reply In 48 Hrs
Asserting ‘Khela Hobe’ (the game is on), she threw a ball from the stage towards the crowd exclaiming the BJP will be bowled out in West Bengal.
The Chief Minister’s outburst came a day after the Election Commission sent a notice to her over alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct in a speech where she urged Muslims to unite and vote for the TMC.
The poll panel asked the TMC chief to respond in 48 hours. The notice was issued after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members met the poll officials seeking action over the matter. The saffron party alleged that she promoted enmity between Hindus and Muslims in her speech.
The BJP in its memorandum submitted to the Election Commission also emphasized that her appeal was highly divisive and communal in nature, stating that she cited religion to make Muslims vote only for the TMC.