"No Effort To Incite Electorate": Mamata Banerjee On Central Forces Remark

The Election Commission said had said Mamata Banerjee's speech violated several sections of the model code as well as the law.

Mamata Banerjee today said she did not try to incite or influence voters against central security forces with her comments at an election rally. The West Bengal Chief Minister was responding to a notice by the Election Commission, seeking her explanation on her comments during the campaign, allegedly telling people to "gherao" central security forces. "There has been no effort to incite or influence the electorate against CAPFs (Central Armed Police Forces). It is clear I haven't violated the Model Code of Conduct," Ms Banerjee said in her reply to the Election Commission. The election body said had said her speech violated several sections of the model code as well as the law. Bengal is voting today in the fourth round of the eight-phase election. Today's polling saw violence in Cooch Behar, where four people were shot dead in a clash with security forces. The incident triggered another political row between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The Election Commission cited her speeches on March 28 and April 7 (Wednesday), in which Ms Banerjee allegedly accused central forces of intimidating voters and urged women to hit back or surround central forces.