After EC notice, Mamata Banerjee points to PM’s ‘Hindu, Muslim’ speeches

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hit back at the Election Commission, a day after the poll body issued a show-cause notice to her for campaining on communal grounds, saying how many notices have been given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violating such codes everyday. 

“It hardly matters even if 10 show cause notices are issued against me. I am telling everyone to vote unitedly, there will no division. How many complaints have been filed against Narendra Modi? He (Prime Minister) does Hindu-Muslim every day,” ANI quoted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo saying at her rally in Damjur.

Also Read | Mamata Banerjee to skip PM Modi’s meet with CMs over COVID-19 situation

“How many complaints have been registered against those people who called Nandigram’s Muslims Pakistanis? Aren’t they ashamed? They can’t do anything against me. I am with Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians as well as tribals,” Banerjee added. 

On Wednesday, the Election Commission issued a notice to Banerjee for “appealing Muslim voters to not let their vote be split among different political parties & demanding votes on communal ground for TMC”.

Also Read | Not more than 25 seats: Mamata Banerjee’s dig at ‘dada with chubby cheeks’

The poll body has given a 48-hour notice to respond to the notice. If Banerjee does not respond within the given time, the EC will take further action without referencing her. 

Three of the eight-phase assembly elections for West Bengal have been done. The next phase is scheduled for April 10, with the date of counting of result scheduled for May 2.