Chidambaram puts EC in dock for firing - Congress blames the Election Commission for the death of four persons during the fourth phase of polls in the state

Relatives of the firing victims in front of the subdivisional hospital in Mathabhanga on Saturday.: Main Uddin Chisti

TT  |   New Delhi   |  11.04.21: The Congress on Saturday blamed the Election Commission for the death of four persons in firing by paramilitary personnel during the fourth phase of polls in Bengal.

“I cannot recall in recent years any case of police firing on voting day during elections resulting in four deaths. It is a case of a failure of leadership and management of the deployment of security personnel. Who should bear responsibility? The Election Commission should be held responsible because it has made largescale transfers and postings of senior police officers in Bengal,” said senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram in a series of tweets.

Chidambaram also tweeted: “The polarisation of society that is taking place in Bengal, thanks to the BJP, is the gravest tragedy that has befallen that state. I cannot believe that the land of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Raja Ram Mohun Roy, Ishwar Chander Vidyasagar, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose Satyajit Ray and Dr B C Roy can fall prey to the virus of communalism. Anyone who claims the legacy of these great leaders — as I proudly do — should shun and fight communalism.”

Referring to the firing, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also wondered when the Election Commission would wake up.

Yashwant Sinha, who joined the Trinamul Congress, a few weeks ago, said: “My condolences to the family of those killed in police firing in Bengal today. Our worst fears about the conduct of central forces under instruction from home minister have come true.”

He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s language was getting more and more aggressive and ugly as the BJP’s losses were mounting in phase after phase of Bengal polls.

“Will he be able to look at Mamata Banerjee in her eyes after she becomes the chief minister again, which is as certain as the sun rising from the east?”