Election Commission of India Seeks Clarification from Bengal BJP State President Over his “Ashoke Stambh” Remarks

The Election Commission of India on Monday issued a notice to West Bengal BJP state President Sukanta Majumdar, asking him to explain his controversial remarks about the national emblem, the Ashoka Stambh, which the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) claims were derogatory and insulting. The TMC lodged a formal complaint with the poll body, accusing Majumdar of making inflammatory statements during an election rally in Taldangra, a town in the state’s poll-bound region. The Election Commission has now asked Majumdar to respond to the allegations by 8 pm today.

In its complaint, the TMC alleged that Majumdar's comments were not only disrespectful towards the state police but also disrespected the national emblem, which holds significant cultural and historical importance. "On November 7, 2024, Shri Sukanta Majumdar, the BJP State President, delivered a false, derogatory, and defamatory speech," reads the TMC's letter submitted to the ECI.

During the rally, Majumdar was quoted as saying, "Don't act as an agent of Trinamool. Remove the Ashoka Stambh on your uniform and replace it with the symbol of a sandal. Don't hide behind the uniform." These remarks, the TMC argued, amounted to a serious insult to both the police force and the Ashoka Stambh, the national emblem of India, which is sacred and revered by the public.

The TMC further claimed that the statement "maligns the state police" and "constitutes a grave insult to the sanctity of the Ashoka Stambh" by suggesting the removal of the emblem in such a "derogatory context." The party emphasized that such remarks were not only inappropriate but potentially harmful to the public perception of both the police force and the symbol of India's sovereignty.