Janata Dal-United MP Sanjay Kumar Jha criticized the West Bengal government for the alleged ‘gherao’ of seven judicial officers involved in the SIR process in poll-bound West Bengal. He expressed concern that such incidents could instill fear among voters and emphasized the need for strict action in line with the Supreme Court’s remarks. The incident occurred in Malda district, where the officers were reportedly confined for nearly nine hours.
The Supreme Court has labeled the incident as “pre-planned” and “motivated,” raising serious apprehensions. In response, the apex court has ordered the deployment of central forces to ensure the safety of the officers. Additionally, it suggested that the Election Commission consider involving agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the investigation. The Supreme Court’s characterization of West Bengal as a “highly polarised state” accompanied these directives.
Sanjay Kumar Jha highlighted the successful completion of a similar SIR exercise in Bihar, contrasting it with the situation in West Bengal. He criticized the West Bengal government for its opposition to the SIR process, alleging that it has undermined the credibility of constitutional institutions. Jha stressed the importance of upholding trust in such institutions through decisive actions.
The JD-U MP likened the Malda incident to a hostage situation, expressing concerns about its potential to deter voters from exercising their democratic rights. He called for stringent measures to address such occurrences and ensure the protection of electoral processes. Jha also criticized opposition leaders for what he perceived as attempts to weaken constitutional institutions while brandishing copies of the Constitution.
The incident in Malda reportedly unfolded following protests outside the Kaliachak II Block Development Office regarding the removal of names from electoral rolls during the SIR process. Initially seeking a meeting with the judicial officers, protesters resorted to ‘gherao’ after being denied access, leading to the confinement of the officers, including women and a child, for several hours.
