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BLO officers, angry over the voter list correction campaign SIR in West Bengal, demonstrated strongly outside the CEO office on Monday. While taking out a procession from College Square, they tried to put a symbolic lock and chain on the main gate of the office. There was also a scuffle with the police. The protesters allege that inhuman pressure is being put on them during the SIR and no hearing is being held on their complaints.
Kolkata: On Monday, angry booth-level officers (BLOs) reached the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to protest amid the ongoing SIR campaign of the Election Commission to improve the voter list in West Bengal. BLO officers took out a procession with locks and chains to symbolically close the main gate of the CEO office. There was fierce pushing and scuffling between the protesters and police personnel while trying to enter the office. Members of BLOs Adhikar Raksha Samiti took out this procession from College Square and tried to break the police barricades outside the CEO office in central Kolkata.
‘Called us for talks’
According to a senior official, the protesters raised slogans against the Election Commission and alleged that inhuman pressure was being put on them during the SIR exercise, a complaint to which the Commission paid no attention. On the other hand, while talking to the media, some BLOs said that the Chief Election Officer had called them for talks but now he is not meeting him.
‘Two years’ work in 30 days’
BLOs Adhikar Raksha Samiti made serious allegations and said that they have been directed to complete the work in a short period of one month, which normally takes more than two years to complete. The protesting BLOs claim that this extreme pressure has not only made them ill but two BLOs have committed suicide due to the stress. This allegation is very serious and shows how far the time limits set by the Election Commission are from the ground reality.
Demand to extend the deadline
BLOs Adhikar Raksha Samiti has warned that if the work deadline is not extended and necessary corrective steps are not taken, they will launch sustained protests. On the other hand, other organizations like BLOs Oikyo Manch have also raised issues related to digital data entry and have demanded additional staff.
