'BJP plotting unrest and seeking President's rule in Bengal': Mamata condemns attack on judicial officers

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condemned the attack on judicial officers during her address at the rallies held in Sagardighi and Suti areas of Murshidabad district. She claimed that the BJP was "plotting" unrest and seeking President's rule in the state, asking people not to fall into the saffron party's "trap" of riots.

She even accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of scripting a "blueprint of conspiracy" to foment unrest in the state and ultimately pave the way for President's rule ahead of the assembly polls.

"The BJP has made many plans and the Government of India is acting as its accomplice. Amit Shah is preparing the blueprint of a conspiracy. I appeal to all of you — do not fall into the trap of riots. This is the BJP's plan," Banerjee said at the Suti rally.

The CM expressed her concern over the Election Commission for "failing to protect" the judicial officers as she asserted fighting the battle politically despite having been stripped of administrative powers after the poll panel's intervention. "I condemn the Election Commission for failing to protect the judicial officers," she said.

"My powers have been taken away and Bengal has been defamed. Nobody from the administration even informed me about the Malda incident," she said, referring to the gherao of seven judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise over alleged deletion of names from the electoral rolls.

Backing the apex court's observations, Mamata said, "The Supreme Court has rightly said so." The Supreme Court came down heavily on the West Bengal administration for their alleged inaction over the "deplorable" gherao and attack on seven judicial officers in Malda district during the SIR drive and ordered an independent probe by the CBI or NIA.

Condemning the incident, the CM said people had the right to protest but "no one should touch the judges or judicial officers", and alleged that the Malda episode was being used to "defame the whole of Bengal".

The TMC supremo repeatedly urged her supporters not to respond to provocation and sought to portray the BJP as a party banking on polarisation and tension after failing to win Bengal electorally.

"They think they will win through muscle power. They think they can snatch victory by force. I appeal to everyone -- do not indulge in riots or violence. Remain calm. However much the BJP attacks Bengal, Bengal will win again," she said.

Mamata's striking remarks surfaced against the backdrop of the recent developments in Malda, where judicial officers involved in the SIR process were surrounded by agitated locals alleging that genuine voters' names had been deleted from electoral rolls.

Banerjee condemned the gherao, but simultaneously blamed the Election Commission for what she called its failure to protect the officers. "No one should touch the judges or judicial officers. People have every right to protest, but nobody should lay hands on them," she said.