Siliguri, 11th April: The Election Commission banned the entry of state and central level leaders in Cooch Behar for 72 hours after four people were allegedly shot dead in a clash with security forces outside a polling booth during the fourth phase of elections on Saturday.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a press conference in Siliguri on Sunday and expressed outrage. She took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stating ‘MCC (Model Code of Conduct) had now turned into BCC (BJP Code of Conduct). “No one can stop me,” she said, referring to the 72-hour prohibition on entry in Cooch Behar. “The Election commission has issued this directive to stop me from meeting the families of the deceased individuals,” she stated.
The Chief Minister termed the EC’s decision as unprecedented. However, she asserted to visit Mathabhanga on April 14 to meet the mourning families. She even assured to provide them financial assistance after the election. Banerjee spoke to the family members of the deceased through a video call during today’s press conference. She stated that she will lodge a police complaint in this regard.
The Election Commission has issued new guidelines stating that the election campaigns must end 72 hours before the election. In view of this, she stated that BJP campaigned in North Bengal till April 13. She further alleged that such a guideline has been issued to stop TMC from campaigning.