Kolkata: Trinamool on Saturday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma over “inciteful and divisive” remarks made during an election rally in Cooch Behar. Trinamool also accused Sarma of making communally-charged statements and leveling “defamatory and unverified” allegations against CM Mamata Banerjee.Sarma, in response, said that such a move by Trinamool would not scare him.In the complaint, Trinamool alleged that Sarma violated the model code and other statutes by claiming Banerjee opposes BJP out of fear that the party would ban beef in Bengal.It alleged that the remarks transcend typical political banter, posing a genuine risk of “communal unrest” that could jeopardise a peaceful election process and heighten tensions in sensitive areas like Cooch Behar.Trinamool also labelled Sarma’s comments as an attack on Banerjee’s reputation.Sarma, meanwhile, stepped up his attack against the CM on Saturday.He accused the Bengal govt of diverting the state’s resources to “Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators”. Addressing a rally in Kalimpong, Sarma claimed his BJP govts in Assam and Tripura have prevented the entry of “Bangladeshi Muslims” into India, while infiltration continues in Bengal.“Once there is a BJP govt in Bengal, we will be able to close the borders, and then we will kick out all the Bangladeshi infiltrators from this part of the border,” he said.He added that the SIR would help eliminate the names of illegal immigrants, specifically Bangladeshi nationals, from the electoral rolls.
