Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The BJP’s Bengal unit has hit back at Rahul Gandhi, hours after the Leader of the Opposition accused the BJP-led Bengal government of seeking “political revenge” and “murdering democracy” over the arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan in the Nandigram bypoll.
Responding to Gandhi’s allegations, the Bengal BJP’s official handle said Pradhan had multiple cases registered against him and that the police arrest was not vindictive but was aimed at ensuring law and order.
advertisement
“Before alleging “political vendetta” and “murder of democracy”, Congress must answer some inconvenient facts,” the party said.
“Four warrants are reportedly pending against its Nandigram by-election candidate, Milan Pradhan, in connection with the following cases: 1. Nandigram PS Case No. 75/07 (30.04.2007): Sections 147, 148, 149, 448, 302 and 506 IPC, and Section 27 of the Arms Act. 2. Nandigram PS Case No. 221/07 (15.11.2007): Sections 147, 148, 149, 326, 364, 302 and 201 IPC. 3. Nandigram PS Case No. 188/07 (08.11.2007): Sections 147, 148, 149, 324, 307 and 302 IPC, and Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act. 4. Khejuri PS Case No. 44/07 (30.07.2007): Sections 148/149 IPC and Sections 25/35 of the Arms Act,” it further added.
It also mentioned that the first three cases against Pradhan involve murder-related provisions, while the last case includes arms-related offences.
The party also said the arrest was made after the Ritabrata Banerjee-led Democratic Trinamool Congress’s Nandigram candidate, MD Ehteshamul Haque Siddiqui, lodged a complaint with the local police about the pending cases.
The arrest sparked a major political row in Bengal on Friday evening, as both Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee launched scathing attacks on the BJP-led government in Bengal, accusing it of a political vendetta.
“The arrest of Congress candidate Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram by-election is no coincidence—it is political revenge, the murder of democracy. The BJP has no faith in fair elections—that’s why it wants to cling to power sometimes through vote theft, sometimes through stealing governments, and sometimes through stealing parties,” Gandhi wrote on X.
On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee, who backed Milan Pradhan hours after her faction’s candidate Sanchita Pradhan Dey backed off from contesting the bypoll, questioned the timing of the arrest.
“Minutes after we extended our support to the Congress candidate for the bypoll in Nandigram, the Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was arrested. The timing raises serious questions and is the usual BJP formula: dig out an old case,” she wrote.
“But why now? Just after we announced support to the Congress! The BJP’s politics of vendetta and atrocities show a clear pattern. With manipulation, with vote loot, with intimidation, the Election Agency-BJP partnership is killing democracy every day,” she added.
The byelection in Nandigram will be held on October 6, and the results will be declared on October 9. The seat fell vacant after West Bengal Chief Minister and three-time Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari vacated it.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
