Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s leaked audio of her conversation with Trinamool Party’s candidate Partha Pratim Roy could be subject to a SIT (Special Investigation Team) probe after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged today that it was a deliberate leak.
Making a representation to Election Commission (EC) in Kolkata this morning, BJP has alleged that “Mamata’s own people have intentionally made the audio viral…the intention is to polarize voters on religious lines.”
BJP’s appeal for a SIT on leaked audio turns the stance of Trinamool Congress on its head as its spokesperson Derek O’ Brien has gone to town claiming that BJP is tapping phones of its opponents.
In the leaked audio Friday evening, the chief minister of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee is heard conversing with her Trinamool Congress Sitalkuchi candidate Partha Partim Roy after the tragic incident of April 10, during the fourth phase of the polls, when the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) had to fire in self-defence at a threatening mob and which resulted in the death of four individuals.
In the leaked audio, Mamata Banerjee is heard saying that “NPR” (National Population Register) would come into force and there would be detention camps (of Muslims) if BJP was to come to power.
Seeking a SIT probe, BJP said that Mamata is repeatedly “making statements to divide the voters on communal lines. She has been banned yet she continues with her divisive politics.”
Mamata had earlier suffered a day’s ban for utterances to Muslims and “provocative” remarks against central armed forces.
Terming it a “deep rooted conspiracy”, the BJP’s letter to EC says the proof is that Trinamool Congress lost no time in admitting itself that audio was authentic.
BJP has urged EC that the “identification of people involved in hatching this conspiracy needs to be investigated.”
BJP has claimed that “the release of audio amounts to fake/proxy campaign.”
Concluding its appeal, the BJP says to EC in the letter: “The provisions of Model Code of Conduct prohibits solicitation of votes on religious lines. It also prohibits making statements that cause hatred between communities or law and order issues. The polarisation of votes on religious lines prejudices free and fair elections which is a constitutional mandate.
“Such a fake campaign to seek polarisation in favour of AITC should be dealt with sternly.”
The leaked conversation between Mamata Banerjee and Roy has the chief minister asking her candidate not to dispose off the bodies and that she would arrive by next morning and do a rally with the four corpses!
Other inflammatory remarks contained a threat to CRPF—“arrest every CRPF”—and that the “SP and IG” need be framed.
Mamata Banerjee was heard saying that “police would not take statement today” which is direct interference from political quarters against the law and order machinery of the state in the midst of a highly volatile assembly polls.
At worst, it sounded an admission that the constituency is infested with infiltrators and a generous view would be that she was stoking anxiety among Muslim populace.
The fifth phase of the eight-phase polls is presently underway. The remaining three phases would be on April 22, 26 and 29.
The counting and results are due on May 2.
