Image: PTI
Kolkata: PM Modi cited Sunday the confinement of seven judicial officers on SIR duty in Malda district as proof of a collapsing law-and-order situation in Bengal, sharpening his attack on Trinamool Congress at a BJP election rally in Cooch Behar.”Citizens across the country were shocked at how judicial officers were held hostage in Malda. What kind of a govt is this where even judges and constitutional authorities aren’t safe? If they’re not safe, how can ordinary people feel safe?” Modi said.Calling the situation “a state of jungle raj”, Modi said the situation had “deteriorated to such an extent that Supreme Court had to intervene”. He said SIR of poll rolls is aimed to identify “illegal settlers”.
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Malda in north Bengal turned into a political flashpoint after the gherao of judicial magistrates at a block office in Kaliachak subdivision last week during protests linked to electoral roll revision.PM Modi turned to cross-border infiltration, saying SIR of electoral rolls aimed to identify “illegal settlers” and remove their names.“Bengal’s demography has undergone a dangerous transformation in the 15 years of TMC govt. TMC has allowed infiltrators to enter Bengal and absorbed them into its syndicate network. That is why govt of India is identifying infiltrators and taking steps to remove them,” he said. He accused TMC govt of opposing SIR and “threatening to scrap” CAA to “protect infiltrators”, alleging that “rights of Hindu citizens who are legally settled here” were being undermined.Modi questioned TMC’s choice of naming its manifesto Ishtehar. “Instead of using a Bengali word, they have used the term ‘ishtehar’, which raises questions about how they are representing Bengal’s identity,” he said. He issued a warning directed at TMC functionaries: “You must trust the law on the day of voting… Ebar Bangla theke bhoy palabe (this time fear will disappear from Bengal). After this election, there will be full accountability for their actions… chun chun ke hisaab kiya jayega.”In Malda, district authorities initiated action against an additional district magistrate over alleged dereliction of duty during the Kaliachak gherao, while NIA continued its probe.
