Summary:
According to sources, the party`s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O`Brien - who was part of an opposition delegation to meet the EC in New Delhi on Tuesday - raised this issue separately.
Sources said O`Brien told the EC that his party has been repeatedly highlighting the role of central forces with photographic and video evidence.
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KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress on Tuesday told the Election Commission of India that an "undeclared emergency has been declared in Bengal" and questioned the poll panel`s move to keep 200 companies of central forces at the state`s disposal days after defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman reportedly said that central forces are going to stay back in Bengal till May 27.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly questioned the role of central forces deployed in Bengal and accused them of "torture and intimidation".
According to sources, the party`s Rajya Sabha leader Derek O`Brien - who was part of an opposition delegation to meet the EC in New Delhi on Tuesday - raised this issue separately.
Sources said O`Brien told the EC that his party has been repeatedly highlighting the role of central forces with photographic and video evidence.
"There have been instances when central forces were heard telling voters to vote for BJP.
The central forces were seen assaulting children and physically disabled persons.
In several instances, they also opened fire," a source said, citing O`Brien`s representation."A BJP minister announced that central forces will be in Bengal for one more week.
Has Emergency been declared by BJP in Bengal? Why special rules for Bengal? This is unacceptable," O`Brien was quoted as telling the EC.
Addressing a press conference on May 19, defence minister Sitharaman had said that BJP was concerned that voters were being intimidated and genuine voters not being allowed to cast their votes.