Mamata Banerjee discharges dharna suit against SIR after SC orders setting up tribunal

KOLKATA: Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called off the protest launched on March 6 against the “forcible deletion” of the electoral roll, hailing the SC’s order on Bengal’s SIR as a “victory for the people” as it “opened a closed door” for those who were deprived of their right to vote.The sit-in at the Esplanade lasted for 114 hours, during which the Chief Minister never left the podium. The event ended after TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee filed an appeal on behalf of the party members.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s order setting up a tribunal to decide appeals against judicial officers rejecting requests for inclusion in the voters’ list, the chief minister said, “The Supreme Court has opened a closed door; take advantage of it. The case will be heard in the Supreme Court even after the date for assembly polls is announced. My petition is still there. Don’t think that if the election date is announced, you have no chance. They said if your name is not in the list, come to us a day before the election.”“Banerjee said the case will be heard in the Supreme Court on March 25 and urged those whose names were removed not to lose heart.