Kolkata: Bengal was a victim of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls and Trinamool did not lose but was “made to lose” the elections, said former chief minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee at the INDIA bloc rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.Banerjee, who had arrived at the venue in an open jeep along with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah and Supriya Sule, vowed to never surrender. “We are prepared to sacrifice our lives to continue this fight for our democratic rights,” she said.She said SIR actually stood for “Special Intensive Relief” for BJP and alleged that the governing party at the Centre had “looted EVMs, democracy, Constitution, people’s rights and even the election counting process.”She accused chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of “centrally hijacking” the electoral system. “You (the CEC) removed more than one crore votes in Bengal. We were not defeated by votes. We were made to lose. We will fight this politically and democratically,” she said.“Mr. Gyanesh Kumar, when will you vanish?” she asked, exhorting those gathered to seek “revenge through democracy”. “They (BJP) looted Bengal. We will restore democracy in Delhi. We will take revenge with democracy. BJP will have to go,” she said.Banerjee added: “Those who live in fear suffer every day, but those who fight for their rights march towards victory. We must have the courage to resist injustice and defend our democratic institutions.”From the INDIA bloc’s stage, she expressed her solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party and Gen Z “for their fighting spirit”. “I appeal to Gen Z, students, young people, CJP and all democratic organisations to come together and take the movement forward,” she said.“I want to tell the youth that you must take the lead. We will guide and help you and offer our suggestions, but the future belongs to you,” she added.The former Bengal CM also called for greater unity within the opposition. “There should be no division based on colour, caste, creed, religion or community. This fight belongs to everyone who believes in democracy, justice and the Constitution,” she said.She appealed to investigative agencies and law enforcement agencies “to behave impartially and not become puppets of BJP,” and called on the judiciary “to play an active role in protecting democracy and ensuring justice.”Drawing on a nursery rhyme, she said: “Vote chori, yes papa; loktantra chori, yes papa; loot kiya: BJP papa; who is behind the curtain: BJP papa.”
