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 тАЬillegal settlersтАЭ and remove their names.тАЬBengalтАЩs 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,тАЭ he said. He accused TMC govt of opposing SIR and тАЬthreatening to scrapтАЭ CAA to тАЬprotect infiltratorsтАЭ, alleging that тАЬrights of Hindu citizens who are legally settled hereтАЭ were being undermined.Modi questioned TMCтАЩs choice of naming its manifesto Ishtehar. тАЬInstead of using a Bengali word, they have used the term тАШishteharтАЩ, which raises questions about how they are representing BengalтАЩs identity,тАЭ he said. He issued a warning directed at TMC functionaries: тАЬYou must trust the law on the day of votingтАж Ebar Bangla theke bhoy palabe (this time fear will disappear from Bengal). After this election, there will be full accountability for their actionsтАж chun chun ke hisaab kiya jayega.тАЭIn Malda, district authorities initiated action against an additional district magistrate over alleged dereliction of duty during the Kaliachak gherao, while NIA continued its probe.
