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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday got into an altercation with security personnel deployed outside Banga Bhawan in Delhi and alleged harassment of families affected by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in her state. After this, security has been increased around Banga Bhawan. Speaking to reporters, Banerjee claimed that the people of West Bengal staying at Banga Bhawan were being ‘threatened’ and questioned the heavy police deployment.

However, she also said that she does not blame the police but the ‘people at the top’. Banerjee, who reached Delhi on Sunday, arrived at the West Bengal government guest house here ahead of her scheduled meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding SIR in West Bengal. She was seen directly arguing with the security personnel outside the building, where she said that she had come to the national capital to get justice for the families of victims during SIR and not for any agitation.

Said- being threatened

Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said, ‘The people of Bengal are being threatened in Banga Bhawan. Our case is in the Supreme Court, we have a meeting in the Election Commission. We are here to meet officially. People have died, can’t their families even talk to the media? The Chief Minister said, ‘There are many families here who have been affected by the SIR process. Delhi Police is deployed at every place where the families affected by SIR are staying. Where is Delhi Police when there is a blast in Delhi? He said that there are some people who are alive but they have been declared dead in the SIR.

Told Delhi Police innocent

She alleged, ‘But I don’t blame Delhi Police, I blame the people holding top positions. This is incompetence. They cannot protect the country, they harass Bengal and the general public, and are committing atrocities in the name of SIR. Banerjee said, ‘When I come here they get nervous. I could have brought lakhs of people. He claimed that Delhi has become ‘like a zamindari’ and there is no place for the poor in it.

Said- I did not come to protest

Earlier, Banerjee was seen approaching the policemen and said, ‘I have not come here to agitate; If I had come to protest, you would have lost your temper. He also said that Delhi Police should not harass the SIR-affected families who have come to the city. Banerjee said, ‘We have come here for justice.’

Without elaborating on specific security arrangements, police said police presence has been increased at Bang Bhawan and Mandi House in Chanakyapuri and personnel have been deployed at several locations near the complexes. Banerjee has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the SIR of voter lists in her state.