CPI(M) demands removal of BSF DG as special police observer in election

The CPI(M) has written to the Election Commission against the appointment of former BSF Director General K.K. Sharma as special police observer for the April-May parliamentary election in West Bengal and Jharkhand, alleging he was present at a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh function a year ago.

New Delhi: CPI(M) politburo member Nilotpal Basu on Wednesday wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora drawing the CEC's attention to the appointment of BSF DG as special police observer for Lok Sabha poll for the state of West Bengal and Jharkhand, alleging he was present at a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh function a year ago.

“It has been widely reported that the DG, who has now retired, participated in a two-day event in Calcutta which was organised by Seemanta Chetna Manch, part of the RSS-backed Seema Jagran Manch, a pan India body which aims to instil 'patriotism' in the border areas across the country," Basu said.

“The ECI's appointment, therefore, is patently questionable and would raise the question of political partisanship. We would, therefore, urge the commission to reconsider and rescind this appointment forthwith,” the letter from CPI(M) leader added.

The CPI(M) has also raised the issue of a purported video clip of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb allegedly issuing a veiled threat to the opposition parties.

Basu said that in the video Deb can be clearly heard saying that the elections to the two parliamentary seats from Tripura will be different from the past and the chief minister is trying to threaten the opposition by saying this.

The CPI(M) leader noted that the Tripura CM made this statement in complete senses. He also sent a pen drive to the CEC containing the video clipping as supporting material. Basu said that this is a clear violation of misusing the CM's office to threaten free, fair and peaceful polls.

The Election Commission on Tuesday appointed four special observers, two retired IRS and two retired IPS officer, to spearhead its efforts to check the abuse of black money and illegal inducements to voters and monitor the deployment of security forces in select sensitive states during the Lok Sabha polls. Sharma is one of them.

Basu has urged the CEC to take urgent action in both these matters.