EC puts Bengal BJP chief on notice over remarks on national emblem

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar for his alleged remarks on the national emblem and the West Bengal Police.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) had complained against the leader to the poll body on November 9.

Majumdar was asked to submit his response to the show-cause notice by the evening of November 11 itself.

The TMC had approached the poll panel seeking action against the BJP leader for his remarks made during a public meeting in the Taldangra Assembly segment, where bypoll is scheduled for November 13.

The alleged remarks “insulting” the national emblem and the state police were made on November 7, the poll panel said in its notice.

The TMC had written to the EC on November 9, accusing Majumdar of “insulting the emblem of India and the state police”. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party said the statement was made during an election rally in poll-bound Taldangra.

The TMC alleged that the BJP leader “insulted” the national emblem and the state police “by stating that police personnel should replace the emblem on their uniform with icons resembling footwear”.

Majumdar was quoted in the letter as saying, “Don’t act as an agent of the Trinamool. Remove the national emblem on your uniform and replace it with the symbol of a sandal. Don’t hide behind the uniform.”

The TMC said the inflammatory statement not only maligned the state police but also constituted a grave insult to the sanctity of the national emblem by suggesting its removal in a derogatory context.