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This is an archive article published on July 15, 2021
‘Political vendetta’: Mamata Banerjee hits out at NHRC for ‘leaking’ report over post-poll Bengal violence
Banerjee accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of 'maligning' the state, "using impartial agencies to settle political scores."
Mamata Banerjee said they will file a response to the NHRC report when the court asks them to. (File)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lashed out at the National Human Rights Commission after its committee, probing alleged incidents of post-poll violence in the state, accused the state government of showing “appalling apathy” towards the victims of the post-poll violence.
Banerjee accused the committee of leaking its probe report to media and called the move a “political vendetta.” “The NHRC should have respected the court. Instead of leaking the findings to the media, it should have first submitted the same to the court,” she said.
The chief minister stated that her government will file a response when the court asks them to. She went on to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ‘maligning’ the state, “using impartial agencies to settle political scores.” “What would you call it other than political vendetta of the BJP? It is yet to digest defeat (in the assembly polls) and that is why the party is resorting to such tricks,” Banerjee said in a press conference in Kolkata Wednesday.
The NHRC panel has recommended a CBI inquiry into “grievous offences like murder and rape,” in its report to the Calcutta High Court, adding that the cases should be tried outside of the state.
“Situation in Bengal a manifestation of ‘law of ruler’ instead of ‘rule of law’,” the report said. It added that the “spatio-temporal expanse of violent incidents in Bengal reflect appalling apathy of state government towards plight of victims.”
The NHRC committee constituted by its chairperson had submitted a report before the High Court on cases of alleged human rights violations in post-poll violence on June 13. The investigating team had faced heckling and reportedly threats of violence in Jadavpur last month.
The TMC leader also hit out at the situation of law and order in Uttar Pradesh. “PM Modi knows very well that there is no rule of law in UP. How many human rights commission has he sent there?…So many incidents, from Hathras to Unnao, have taken place,” she said. She maintained that the central agency is maligning Bengal and said that the violence took place pre-poll when the law and order was under the Election Commission.
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She also accused the central government of being unfair in its distribution of the Covid vaccines. “We need 14 crore vaccine doses but we are not receiving vaccines adequately. We have received only 2.12 crore vaccines. We have bought 18 lakh vaccines ourselves. Some states are receiving more vaccines, some are not receiving at all,” she was quoted as saying by ANI.
According to PTI, she will seek an appointment with the Prime Minister and President in her visit to Delhi next week.
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