Bharatiya Janata Party has written a letter to the commissioner of police, Kolkata, alleging the personal details of police personnels of all ranks is being taken with the sole purpose of using them as “proxy” votes.
The letter, signed by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta among others, mentions that under the banner of Welfare Association, a “major exercise” is being carried out within the police force, “to collect photo-copies of Voter and Aadhaar card of police personnel of all ranks.”
“The sole purpose of this is to enable the collection of postal ballots of all concerned and to effect proxy votes. This is a highly irregular act, and also amounts to taking away someone fundamental right to vote.”
The letter mentions the name of the inspector who is accused of heading the entire operation. “Inspector by the name Santanu Sinha Biswas is spearheading the entire operation of collecting the IDs… in this illegal and criminal act SI Tapan Kumar Maity and SI Bijitaswo Raut are assisting him, amongst others,” the letter mentioned.
BJP also questioned the presence of several police personnel holding the party flag in the presence of Trinamool Congress state president and MP Subrata Bakshi at Uttirna on February 13. “They were seen swearing allegiance to TMC holding the party flag,” stated the letter.
In the interest of wanting a free and fair environment ahead of assembly polls, the BJP has asked the commissioner of police to suspend the named officers. “Also immediate steps are taken to stop this exercise, which comes under the provisions of Corrupt Practices in the Representation of People’s Act,” the complaint concludes.
