"They are threatening BLOs saying their jobs will be taken away": CM Banerjee

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 27 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out at the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in the state, questioning the haste in implementing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
CM Banerjee demanded to know who was responsible for the deaths of BLOs in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, where the BJP is in power.
While addressing the media at Red Road in Kolkata, CM Banerjee said, "I cannot say anything about this. I have the entire record of who died by suicide, who died due to trauma. Several people are still dying by suicide. Who is responsible for the BLOs death in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan? What was the need to implement this in a hurry? They threaten the BLOs that they will be put in jail and have their jobs taken away. I want to ask you, how long will your job stay? Democracy will remain, but your job will not be there."
The Chief Minister alleged that BLOs were being threatened with jail and job loss. Additionally, CM Banerjee criticised the ECI for not meeting with a delegation of BLOs.
"You should not die by suicide because life is very precious, yet they have no mercy and took 48 hours just to meet the BLOs and listen to them. Look at the audacity of a small leader! [State CEO] We have the records of all the deaths. Who is responsible for the BLO deaths in Gujarat and MP? BJP is in power there. Why are they rushing the SIR? Are they all saints? They are threatening the BLOs by saying their jobs will be taken away. Who will save your jobs when you are threatening others?" she added.
The Chief Minister demanded to know why the ECI was not meeting with a 10-member delegation of BLO representatives of her government.
"BLOs are dying everywhere. Their demands are justified. Can you imagine that they had to sit for 48 hours just for a meeting? When I was coming back yesterday [from Bongaon], some people wanted to speak to me, and I heard their grievances and did what was necessary. But why should the BLOs wait for 48 hours just to make their case heard? What kind of arrogance is this? They [ECI] are not meeting more than four representatives from our end. We have said that we will send a 10-member delegation. Why? Will they decide now who they will meet?" she questioned.
CM Banerjee questioned the feasibility of completing the electoral roll revision work within the given timeframe. She also alleged that the enumeration forms show wrong distribution figures.
"How can you complete the work of three years in two months? This is a farming season. Even the journalists are not at home all day. Even the enumeration forms and distribution figures are wrong. We will follow the Constitution and work as per it. Whatever guidance the freedom fighters have given us, we will follow their guidelines and not the BJP's guidelines."
Earlier, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal stated that the office had received complaints about BLOs facing pressure and falling ill. The CEO further disclosed that the District Magistrates of four districts have been asked to submit detailed reports.
During an earlier press conference on Monday, CEO Agarwal said, "We are receiving complaints that BLOs are under pressure and some are falling ill. We have asked the District Magistrates (DMs) to assist them. There are also reports that some BLOs have died. We have asked the DMs of four districts to send the police and PM (postmortem) reports. We will receive their reports in a day or two; only after that will we be able to take action, and on that basis, we will be able to inform the Election Commission of India that the BLOs died on duty due to SIR."
On Tuesday, the Chief Minister also pointed out that while her government does not oppose the SIR process, genuine voters must not be removed.
She emphasised that governments are meant to be changed by the people, but, she said, currently it is the system itself that is being altered."We never said it (SIR) isn't required. We said you cannot remove any genuine voter -- those who have voted, who are beneficiaries of state schemes, and who have been living here for years. You cannot remove them. The public elects the government to power, but now the system is changing. The Election Commission will decide who gets to choose the government. It is supposed to be an impartial body, not the BJP's Commission," Mamata Banerjee said.