KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cited the jailing of seven judicial officers on special administrative area duty in Malda district as evidence of the breakdown in law and order in Bengal, intensifying his criticism of Trinamool Congress At a BJP election rally in Cooch Behar.“Citizens across the country are shocked that judicial officials were taken hostage in Malda. What kind of government is this where even judges and constitutional authorities are not safe? If they are not safe, how can common people feel safe?” Modi said.Modi called the situation a “jungle state” and said it had “deteriorated to such an extent that the Supreme Court had to intervene”. He said the SIR poll was aimed at identifying “illegal settlers”.
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North Bengal’s Malda became a political flashpoint last week after a quarrel broke out between judicial magistrates at a block office in Kalyachak division amid protests related to the revision of the electoral roll.Turning to cross-border penetration, PM Modi said the electoral roll SIR was aimed at identifying “illegal settlers” and removing their names.“During the 15 years of the TMC government, Bengal’s demography has undergone a dangerous transformation. The TMC has allowed infiltrators to enter Bengal and inducted them into its network of groups. That is why the Indian government is identifying the infiltrators and taking steps to weed them out,” he said. He accused the TMC government of opposing the SIR and “threatening to repeal” the CAA to “protect infiltrators” and claimed that the “rights of Hindu citizens settled here legally” were being compromised.Modi questioned the TMC’s choice to name its manifesto “Ishtehar”. “Instead of using a Bengali word, they used the word ‘ishtehar’, which raises questions about how they represent Bengali identity,” he said. He issued a warning to TMC workers: “You have to believe in the law on polling day… Ebar Bangla theke bhoy palabe (This time the fear of Bengal will disappear). There will be full accountability for their actions after this election… chun chun ke hisaab kiya jayega.”“In Malda, the district authorities took action against another district magistrate for alleged dereliction of duty during Kaliya Chak Gelao, while the NIA continues its investigation.
