Abhishek Banerjee Celebrates Supreme Court Ruling as Democratic Triumph
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee hailed the Supreme Court's Monday ruling on the party's SIR petition as a decisive victory for democracy. Speaking at a rally in Kacchari Maidan, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, Banerjee declared that the BJP's "SIR game" was now conclusively over.
Court Victory and Electoral Warning
Banerjee delivered a pointed message to political opponents. "Aaj court e haralam, April e vote harabo, toiri theko", he stated. This translates to "we defeated you in court today, will defeat you in the ballots in April, be prepared". He framed the court's decision as a firm vindication of the TMC's position.
The ruling represented a "tight slap" on those who attempted to undermine the fundamental voting rights of Bengal's citizens, according to the TMC leader. He accused the Election Commission of harassing common people by attempting to strike names off electoral rolls.
Details of the Supreme Court Order
Expressing his satisfaction, Banerjee detailed the court's directives. "I am very happy today. The Supreme Court accepted Trinamool Congress's demand and ordered the publication of a list of logical discrepancies", he said. He further indicated that BLA-2s would be permitted at hearing centres as part of the process.
Banerjee referenced his December 31 meeting in Delhi with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He claimed the commission refused to publish a list of 1.3 crore people facing harassment over alleged document discrepancies. "They said this because if the list was made public, their game would be exposed", Banerjee asserted.
Protecting Voter Rights and Exposing Alleged Tactics
The TMC leader emphasized that the judgment protected voters' rights. "BJP's SIR game is over. 1 crore names targeted for striking off were saved, and the victory belongs to the people of Bengal", he proclaimed. He stated the Supreme Court delivered a firm rebuke to threats against voting rights.
Banerjee countered allegations about Bengal's voter rolls. "They called us a haven for Bangladeshis. And when the SIR list was released, the fewest names were deleted from Bengal, while the most were from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat", he noted, drawing a regional comparison.
Political Swipe and Historical Reference
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, Banerjee invoked Bengal's history. "The soil of Bengal is an unconquerable fortress. This is not Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh or Gujarat", he said. He reminded the audience that this land led during the freedom movement and the Bengal Renaissance.
He reiterated the court's specific instructions. "The country's highest court upheld Trinamool's demands and clearly said that the list of logical discrepancies must be released". He added that the judges mandated the presence of BLAs during hearings and required receipts for those appearing.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claiming People's Victory
Banerjee escalated his criticism, declaring defeat for "those who said they would strike off 1 crore voters from the electoral rolls".
He dedicated the victory to "Ma, Mati, Manush" (Mother, Soil, People), calling it Bengal's triumph. "Those who tried to snatch away our fundamental right to vote were slapped on both cheeks by the Supreme Court", he stated. In a direct challenge, he asked, "So whose power is greater Modiji — the power of 10 crore people or BJP's feudal lords?"
Post-Ruling Virtual Meeting Planned
Following the Supreme Court order, Abhishek Banerjee will convene a major virtual meeting on January 22. The session will connect with nearly 1 lakh party workers and leaders. A source indicated that all TMC MPs, MLAs, organisational leadership, and BLA-2s will participate. The party's spokespersons have also been instructed to attend this gathering.
