Kolkata, Aug 7 (IANS) A delegation of the “rebel but majority” faction in Trinamool Congress led by the expelled party legislator, Ritabrata Banerjee, on Friday, met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, raising the demand for more regional tribunals in the state for settling the cases of voters whose names were deleted during the special intensive revision (SIR) in the state earlier this year.
The 10-member delegation was led by Ritabrata, who is also the official Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
Addressing media persons after the meeting with the Chief Minister, Ritabrata said that the delegation had highlighted the necessity for opening more regional tribunals in West Bengal.
“There is only one regional tribunal and that too located at Joka in South 24 Parganas district. It is practically impossible for the common man from North Bengal districts to come to Joka for a hearing or submit documents. We have demanded that additional regional tribunals be set up in each district. The deadline should be extended by at least six months so that the common man can submit applications. If the government does not accept this demand, there will be no other option but to take to the streets in a big movement along with the affected people,” Ritabrata said.
Also present at the meeting was the Chief Whip of the “rebel but majority” faction Akhruzzaman. He said that he is also not in favour of inclusion of illegal or fake voters in the voters’ list.
“But while identifying fake voters, no legitimate citizen should be left out. The Chief Minister said in the meeting that 7 lakh people have already applied. But our estimate is that several deleted voters are there who have not yet understood the process properly. We will seek the intervention of the Calcutta High Court if necessary to protect the democratic rights of these legitimate voters,” Akhruzzaman added.
–IANS
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