E-Paper
PM Modi says what happened in Cooch Behar is saddening, 'new low' for Didi
Didi has stooped so low seeing her power slipping away, PM Modi said addressing a rally in Siliguri, while voting Cooch Behar turned violent.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the violence in Cooch Behar during the fourth phase election in West Bengal in which four voters, including an 18-year-old, were shot dead in separate incidents, was very unfortunate.
"My condolences are with their family members. Didi and her goons have become jittery seeing the people’s support in favour of BJP. Seeing her rule coming to an end, didi has stooped to this level. But I would like to make it clear to the TMC that this won't work in Bengal. I urge the ECI t take stern actions against the guilty in the Cooch Behar case," PM Modi said adding, "This violence, inciting people against the central forces and creating hindrances in the poll process won't be able to save you didi".
A first-time voter in Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi assembly constituency was shot dead at around 8am and two persons have been arrested in this connection. BJP has claimed that 18-year-old Ananda Barman was a BJP supporter, while the Trinamool claimed Barman was shot by the BJP.
In a separate incident, CISF opened fire in retaliation when villagers attacked them based on some "rumours", which resulted in the deaths of other voters. The Election Commission stopped polling at Sitalkuchi and sought a report by 5pm.
Referring to Mamata Banerjee's recent comments on central forces for which she was served a notice by the Election Commission, PM Modi at his Siliguri rally said, "Can you imagine a head of the state is teaching voters to gherao central forces?" Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, has defended her action and in a reply to the Election Commission she has said she has the highest regard for the Central Armed Police Force and in her speech, there was no attempt to threaten, incite or influence the electorate against the force.
On Cooch Behar violence, Mamata Banerjee said a conspiracy is going around under the instruction of the Union home minister and Cooch Behar's incident is the proof. "Central forces have shot dead 4 people in Sitalkuchi (Cooch Behar) today. There was another death in the morning. CRPF is not my enemy but there's a conspiracy going around under the instruction of Home Minister and today's incident is a proof," Mamata said.
Blaming the Centre for what happened in Cooch Behar, Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien said, "When you can't beat us fair and square, you shoot. Mr Modi, Mr Shah, you are killers. At your command, the EC recently changed the DG of Police in West Bengal, the ADG law and order, and even the Superintendent of Police where the killings took place have been recently changed. The buck stops with you. The buck stops with the EC."
