- 6 minutes ago
Ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, a major controversy has erupted over the conduct of IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, deployed as an Election Commission observer in South 24 Parganas.
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00:00Good evening, you're watching NewsTrack with me, Maria Shakil as West Bengal guest for
00:04phase two of polling. The spotlight is not just on political parties and candidates but also on
00:10observers. Observers are who? They are appointed by the Election Commission of India and they are
00:16the EC's eyes and ears on the ground. They are tasked with watching, reporting and acting to
00:23safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. But what if an observer becomes the story?
00:30Ajaypal Sharma, police observer from Uttar Pradesh, deployed in South 24 Parganas, has triggered a
00:36major controversy after stepping in on complaints of voter intimidation clashing with local political
00:44actors and now facing serious allegations himself. From on-ground warnings to protests and police
00:52complaints, this has raised larger questions about the role of an observer. More than two
00:57lax central security personnel are supervising the Bengal polls. With voting just hours away,
01:04this debate has cast a sharp focus on the very mechanism designed to keep elections free and
01:10fair. Take a look at this report.
01:19In less than 24 hours, voters of Bengal will seal the fate of candidates in the fray for the second
01:25phase of assembly elections. Before voters exercise their franchise, the spotlight is on Uttar Pradesh
01:33IPS officer Ajaypal Sharma, hand-picked by election commission as the police observer for South 24 Parganas.
01:43While on duty, Sharma warned Falta TMC candidate Jahangir Khan's relatives citing complaints of voter
01:50intimidation.
02:07Jahangir Khan hit back. At a public rally, Jahangir Khan warned picture,
02:12a that, Mr. Hassah.
02:17Karate Mahogir Khan inatus, Jhaif Arif Khan has made a clear investigation for theirär
02:34intimes. Szius
02:35framed now says it's 1-8-8-6-7-8-7-3-6-9-7-8-7-8-8-8
02:37-8-8- 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-9-8.
02:40A police complaint has now been filed against the IPS officer Ajaypal Sharma,
02:45accusing him of barging into houses at night and assaulting women in Falta.
02:50The election commission, meanwhile, has removed the Falta BDO for not cooperating with Ajaypal Sharma.
02:57The war of words has ignited a political storm.
03:00The TMC alleges Ajaypal Sharma has been parachuted to influence voters.
03:27S.P. Chief Achillesh Yadav has backed the TMC charge.
03:49Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the voters of Bengal that central forces will stay in the state for the
03:56next 60 days.
04:10The Bengal elections are being held under the supervision of more than 2 lakh central security personnel.
04:17The controversy involving Uttar Pradesh police officer has sharpened the battle lines.
04:25Bureau Report, India Today.
04:30Joining me now is Dr. S.Y. Qureshi, former CEC of India.
04:34Dr. Qureshi, as someone who has led the election commission,
04:39the question that is being asked right now, particularly because of the developments with regards to officers like Ajaypal Sharma
04:46is,
04:47should encounter specialists who are known for their past controversies,
04:53should the election commission have undergone proper background checks before appointing these police observers in sensitive states like West Bengal?
05:04Dr. S.P. Yes, of course, the election commission should have checked the background.
05:10They always do.
05:10Every observer who is sent, every officer who is sent,
05:15right, he or her antecedents are known to the election commission.
05:21But I don't know whether after verifying the antecedents,
05:25especially for his great qualification of being an encounter specialist,
05:31it may be that is why he was posted.
05:35You've made an important point, sir, about you starting this entire, you know, process in 2011 of sending police officers
05:45as observers.
05:47Does that really help in ensuring that the elections are free and fair?
05:53Yes, sir, indeed, because we're working very well.
05:562011 is about 15 years ago, and we have been following this practice all over the country
06:02because we send IS observers because they have to supervise the DMs and the commissioners.
06:19And so many police officers are also involved.
06:22It is important to send IPS observers, which is when I decided that we will send IPS observers.
06:29They have been working fine.
06:31And even we have a.
06:38Again, the other observers who are working even in West Bungval today thinks no end of himself,
06:45ordering around as if he's an observer, as the name indicates, are only there to observe their eyes and ears
06:53of the commission.
06:53If they find anything flawed, they're supposed to report to the DM, district magistrate, or maximum the SP.
07:01And who are, who only can take action, they cannot order.
07:05They, no observer of any kind, IPS, IS, none of them can take direct action.
07:11They're all supposed to work under the district administration.
07:16Dr. Qureshi, there is a video which has surfaced, which shows Ajaypal Sharma directly warning the TMC candidate's family on
07:25camera.
07:25Does this kind of proactive or stern style by a police observer fit the ECI guidelines or does it risk
07:35looking like intimidation?
07:38Absolutely, it is intimidation.
07:40This exceeds, this brief, yet no business to be talking like this.
07:44If you find anything irregular, you're supposed to report to the SP.
07:48And the SP will take action or the report to the DM who will get the action ordered.
07:54So, it was totally out of the way that he was going and threatening because he's quite used to these
08:00kind of ways.
08:02So, does the police complaint filed against Ajaypal Sharma on charges of entering houses and intimidating women
08:08actually indicate that his impartiality is not above board and therefore compromised?
08:14Yeah, impartiality apart. Impartiality, of course, is questionable.
08:18But this is the crossing of jurisdiction. He has no business.
08:23He should just quietly observe from left, right and center and report to the SP if he finds any irregularity.
08:34He should be entering homes or beyond his brief totally.
08:40So, if it is beyond his brief, then what can be done by, what should be done by the election
08:46commission?
08:47Should he be recalled? Should he be called back?
08:51Correct. That is the least they should do.
08:54If not taking further action, this is the least.
08:57But then I have seen some other videos where he has gone to dance clubs, dance bars, where he himself
09:04is dancing very obscenely with obscene girls there.
09:08So, that is even a bigger offense.
09:11Observers are not allowed, they are supposed to be on duty, they are not there for entertainment and tourism.
09:18And if he has done that, and if he really is the right person, that we see on the video,
09:29that is a more serious action, including suspension.
09:38If they go on, they are not there on a jaunt, they are not there for a pleasure holiday, they
09:45are on duty.
09:46And here he goes to a dance bar and dances and a video is made and what kind of a
09:52person is he?
09:54We are raising serious questions because, you know, the Trinamool Congress has been raising a lot of questions on the
10:00conduct of Ajaypal Sharma and the video which has surfaced.
10:03But let me give you the last word on this, what should be done by the Election Commission right now
10:07and after a police complaint which has been filed, of course, this has been done by the Bengal Police and
10:13given the kind of tension which we have seen between Bengal Police and the Election Commission, Bengal Police and the
10:20CRPF, what should be done because the elections are going to be held tomorrow in the second phase?
10:27For the video where he is threatening people, he should at least be recalled.
10:32And if the other videos about the dance bars are correct, for which he should be suspended.
10:40All right.
10:42Dr. S.Y. Qureshi, really appreciate your time.
10:44Thank you so much for joining us.
10:48Let me bring in the political guests now.
10:50Diju Dutta, TMC spokesperson, joins me.
10:53We also have Rohan Gupta, National Spokesperson of the BJP.
10:55Rohan Gupta, S.Y. Qureshi, who had just joined me a few minutes, a few moments ago, I would say.
11:01He is of the opinion that Ajay Pal Sharma should be recalled because a police observer is not expected to
11:10issue intimidation.
11:12He is only expected to inform the SP or the DM about what is going wrong and what he is
11:19sensing on the ground.
11:21See, I think, Maria, when you deal with goons, I don't think so any rule should apply.
11:26I have been in Bengal for three months and we have seen that these are the kind of people who
11:33were ensuring that people, they get scared and they don't come out and vote.
11:36But just because of the election commission and the central forces, that people got confidence and they voted in such
11:42a huge number.
11:43So that's a win of election commission, the whole system, that people trusted that and they came out and voted.
11:48And this is the first time there is no repolling.
11:51This is the first time the election got held in two phases.
11:53This is the first time that highest ever voting got done in West Bengal for the first time.
11:59No killings, people violence on the day of election.
12:02There was no killing, barring few incidents of TMC.
12:05Overall, election commission could deliver.
12:08And when the question of delivery comes and on the phase one, we saw that one of the BJP candidates
12:12was beaten by TMC goons.
12:14We saw that on camera.
12:16So I think it was important for election commission to ensure that whatever lacune or maybe small gaps which were
12:23left in phase one, they are not left in phase two.
12:25So I don't see that when you deal with the goons, there should be any rules or intimidation or not.
12:30And he was very clear.
12:32He told that I have found that you people are going to the people and you are scaring them.
12:37So obviously, as an officer, he must be having evidence.
12:40So rather than just questioning him.
12:41So in turn, he will scare them.
12:44Why not?
12:44Why not to scare goons?
12:46Because then you are protecting your democracy.
12:48What is wrong with that?
12:49If you are controlling the antisocial elements to ensure that the people can vote peacefully,
12:54what is wrong in that?
12:55I absolutely don't see anything wrong in that.
12:57He has not spoken about the people of Mangal.
13:00He has spoken about specifically the goons.
13:02And that is the same thing Home Minister repeated.
13:05That anybody who does antisocial activities, he will not be sparked on after the goons.
13:09This is the TMC candidates family that we are talking about.
13:12So perhaps Rijudatta will be able to explain it better.
13:15Why is BJP calling him goon?
13:20Okay.
13:21I just want to say this on record.
13:24That there are multiple police observers from different BJP states.
13:28He is the only police observer who is being advertised and propagated by none other than
13:34Amit Malviya and the BJP official handles on Twitter,
13:37labeling him as Singham or Encounter Specialist and whatnot.
13:41So I want to say this first to the BJP spokesperson.
13:45That as per observer manual published by Election Commission of India in August 2024, in page 21, point
13:55number two, it clearly says the observer is the eyes and ears of the Election Commission.
14:00He does not have executive power.
14:02And like you rightly pointed out, that he is going to the residence of the Trinomul candidate and he's intimidating
14:10his family.
14:11And I'm going to give you a breaking news, Maria, on India today.
14:15That right now as we speak, the women of FALTA has already lodged a complaint of, you know, a complaint
14:24of assault and, you know, harming their modesty in the middle of the night against this Ajaypal Sharma.
14:29He is corrupt. His Mujra videos are viral on the social media.
14:36He has been centers of multiple scams and investigations.
14:39And I'm saying this in very clear terms.
14:41He is doing illegal raids in Bengal.
14:44He's intimidating bona fide voters of Bengal.
14:47He's intimidating women barging into their house in the middle of the night and assaulting them.
14:51So I am saying this as the Trinomul spokesperson, Maria, very important.
14:55That after 4th of May, there will be an FIR filed on Ajaypal Sharma.
15:02We will do a chart sheet on him.
15:04And if he thinks he can run away to the state he comes from and he has got his BJP
15:08Malik's protecting him,
15:10we will drag him to the court of law where he will face the strictest arm of the law.
15:13You cannot run, you cannot hide.
15:15Rohan Gupta, the point that has been made by Rajiv Dutta is important here.
15:19That there is not just one, but there are several police observers across Bengal.
15:26Many are seeing this, you know, unprecedented deployment which has happened.
15:31Then why this kind of support that has been extended by the BJP's official handles of the state to Ajaypal
15:38Sharma?
15:39How does he really help your cause?
15:42See, absolutely.
15:43This is for the people of West Bengal.
15:45It is not about individual.
15:47It is about the system.
15:48If he is threatening the goals to ensure that the people of West Bengal can vote free and in fair
15:53manner,
15:54what is wrong with that?
15:55And he was very, very clear.
15:56He told that I have got received the complaint that you are going from house to house and threatening the
16:02voters.
16:02Please stop doing this.
16:04That is what he has told.
16:05He has not told that there is a TMC worker he is getting threatened.
16:09He has clearly told that since you have done this activity, I am cautioning you.
16:13What is wrong?
16:14It is not responsibility of the election commission official to ensure that there is a free and fair elections.
16:20Haven't we seen on phase one how BJP candidate was treated by TMC workers?
16:25Haven't we seen how the storm felting happened?
16:27So, when there is a history of TMC for this kind of activities and can we forget the facts?
16:32So, Maria, that hundred crude bombs were found from the TMC workers' house in Pergana.
16:37So, these are the facts.
16:39So, he will take…
16:53No, no, no.
16:54And they are expected to take action.
16:57He can't take action on his own.
16:59Can't issue these intimidation and threats on camera.
17:04See, Maria, one thing is very clear.
17:06If TMC sees that, no, this is wrong and there is an issue in conduct, let them file the case.
17:11Right now…
17:12They have already filed the case.
17:14No, let them file.
17:15Let the court decide.
17:16I will welcome.
17:16I will definitely welcome.
17:18The truth should prevail and the rule should be followed.
17:20But the way we are doing debate here and the way TMC is supporting the goons there in this state,
17:25that is surprising.
17:26So, counter can be…
17:29So, if TMC is supporting that candidate, you are also supporting an encounter specialist.
17:34See, it is not about candidate.
17:36It is supporting a goon.
17:37I am not talking him as a candidate.
17:38You have seen when Mr. Amit Shah told that after 4th, we will take these goons to the task.
17:44Even that TMC flipped and said, no, this is against our workers.
17:47No.
17:47Do you accept it?
17:49Do you agree that all the workers are goons?
17:51Free and fair election meant that 92% people came out to cast their vote.
17:58And after the first phase, just as the BJP, the TMC has also claimed victory that you have almost reached
18:05the finishing line.
18:07Then why shouldn't you also want free and fair election in the second phase?
18:11That's where cops like Ajay Sharma actually are helping ensuring that people are not fearful and they will come out
18:20to cast their vote.
18:21Before answering your question, Maria, I will also point out two other incidents.
18:25When my dear friend Rohan, he waxed eloquent about how it is, how TMC apparent goons are threatening people.
18:34He forgot that two days ago, a scheduled cast women MP was attacked by BJP goons who are already now
18:42arrested.
18:42Number one, point number one.
18:44Number two, if they are calling our candidate a goon and they are supporting a police observer, why?
18:53And third, my point is this.
18:56We want free and fair elections.
18:58In Manipur, there are only 20,000 armed forces when Manipur is burning.
19:02But in Bengal, there is two and a half lakh forces.
19:04In Bengal, we are watching armored trucks, amphibious vehicles with automated weapons.
19:09The only thing I have left to see is tomorrow when I go to cast my vote, there will be
19:13a raphael flying over my head.
19:15But also, Maria, I want to raise this issue that Rohan's colleague, Ajay Alok, who is also a national spokesperson
19:22of the BJP, has tweeted,
19:25Didi, you will stop, then you will stop.
19:28What kind of language?
19:30A death threat to a three-time chief minister by the national spokesperson of a national channel?
19:36This is the culture.
19:37Is this the puri botton?
19:38Is this the women's safety that they want to bring in Bengal?
19:41Bottom line is this.
19:42We want free and fair election.
19:44No doubt about it.
19:46But when a corrupt, biased person issues threats to that bona fide voters of Bengal, we will go against him.
19:54He can be whoever he wants.
19:56We do not care.
19:57We don't care about who he is or what he is.
20:01At the end of the day, he cannot run and hide.
20:04See, I am very clear.
20:06I told irrespective of the party, if something wrong is done, the election commission should take that person, whether it
20:12is from any party, to the task.
20:14And I am not here supporting anybody.
20:15That is a gap between TNC and BJP.
20:20Your workers killed Congress workers.
20:22You know that.
20:23Who has come out and criticized that from TNC?
20:25Nobody.
20:26This is your history.
20:27This is what you want.
20:28You want to integrate the voters so that they don't go out and vote.
20:32Because the higher is the voting, the more chances that you will lose your power.
20:36When 92% voting is done, how can you question election commission?
20:39And why you are not controlling your workers when the Congress worker is killed?
20:44And still you are supporting them.
20:45I am not supporting anybody here.
20:47On the national TV, I am saying that anybody who does wrong with anybody should be taken to the car
20:51task irrespective of the party.
20:53I will not support any good.
20:55Do you have courage to tell that for your workers?
20:57Do you have courage to tell on the national TV that yes, if my worker is killed, Congress worker, he
21:02should be taken to the task.
21:04Then you are silent.
21:05Why?
21:06There cannot be double standards.
21:07And that's why people of West Bengal don't trust you anymore.
21:10You have lost the confidence of people because you want to ensure that they are better.
21:14Rujudatta, let's wait for the verdict on 4th.
21:17This time it will not happen.
21:18Let's wait for the verdict on 4th before you announce that they have lost the confidence of people of Bengal.
21:23Okay, so let's wait for that.
21:25Rujudatta.
21:26Yes.
21:26Now, I will just jog the memory of your viewers that few days ago, the election commission prepared a list
21:34of 800 people, so-called troublemakers, including candidates, which got slapped down by the Calcutta High Court.
21:40And you know what the Calcutta High Court said?
21:42The Calcutta High Court said that in terms of preventive measure, you cannot house arrest people.
21:47If anybody breaks the law, you are free to take action.
21:51And I'm saying this on national TV in front of BJP and all your viewers.
21:54That irrespective of TMC, BJP, anybody, if anybody creates a riot, if anybody is intimidating voters, if anybody is distributing
22:02cash, distributing alcohol, trying to throw bombs, book them, throw them in the jail.
22:07But no police observer can take these kind of preventive measures on the behest of the BJP threatening bona fide
22:18voters of Bengal.
22:19That is what I am saying.
22:20There is no crime committed.
22:22When he goes to, let me finish, this is very important.
22:25When he goes to the house of Jahangir Khan and intimidates his family and says, I will take him, I
22:30will book him and then see what they will do.
22:33I am challenging BJP on national TV.
22:36Can you show me that there is one criminal case filed against Jahangir Khan?
22:41If there is no criminal case filed against Jahangir Khan, then BJP, exactly, BJP can say their narrative, BJP is
22:48alright.
22:49But why a police observer is behaving like this?
22:51Is he a BJP kader?
22:53Is he a BJP karyakarta?
22:54And why is he glorified by the BJP, by Amit Malviya and the BJP official handle?
22:58This is where the question comes in.
23:00You know, Rohan Gupta, so far the spotlight has not been on individuals like Ajaypal Sharma.
23:07You have been having a narrative in pole-bound Bengal.
23:10Why would you want the entire narrative to be hijacked by someone like Ajaypal Sharma and his conduct and the
23:16entire party running to defend him?
23:18See, absolutely not.
23:20I am not defending individuals here.
23:21I am defending the system.
23:22Mr. Iju gave the example of Kolkata High Court.
23:25The same High Court, when TMC went and questioned the transfer of officers, they told, no, whatever is done is
23:30right.
23:31Then they don't respect Kolkata High Court.
23:33Then they question Kolkata High Court and something which suits, then they support Kolkata High Court.
23:37No, don't have double standards.
23:39I am completely, I respect Kolkata High Court's decision.
23:42Do you have courage to tell that?
23:44Then when it doesn't suit you, you question.
23:46And then you should suit this Satyamir Jayite.
23:48There cannot be double standards.
23:50I am very clear, it is not about the individual.
23:52It is about the intimidation, not having case against a particular individual.
23:57That doesn't mean that he is not going from house to house and not threatening the people.
24:01Definitely.
24:02You have right to ask him what are the evidences he had that he or his family members have threatened
24:06the people.
24:07I am with you.
24:08But just centralizing that, and this is not the only case.
24:11When 100 bombs were found from your worker's house, have you come down and evangelized to the people of West
24:16Bengal?
24:16No.
24:16This is our intention.
24:18Don't you feel funny that he was the intention if the 100 bombs are there?
24:21When they are killing Congress workers, don't they have to apologize to the people?
24:25They are gathering everybody.
24:27I have seen, Mr. Diju, I have seen at least 20.
24:30Let me tell you.
24:31I was in Uttar Bangal.
24:32I was there in Natmar where I went and I saw those bombs on the road.
24:37People were not scared this time.
24:39What else do you want?
24:40You have sent your guns to the house.
24:42The people don't understand.
24:43And this is 92% voting.
24:46That's where it's 94%.
24:48I will say this on national TV.
25:05The way he has not defended Ajayipal, I am not sure whether Rohan will have a job tomorrow as the
25:10spokesperson or not.
25:11Absolutely.
25:12And secondly, the way he is confident of 200.
25:17Amitsha is also not confident.
25:19He is more confident than Amitsha also.
25:20You will get promotion because he is protecting the goods.
25:23I am telling you, Riju, you will get promoted because you are supporting the goods.
25:27I am predicting that.
25:28You are going to get promotion.
25:29Let's see who will get the last lap.
25:31Thank you for your prediction.
25:32Who will have the last lap?
25:34At least between the two of you.
25:36Between the two of you.
25:37You can make it cordial.
25:39You can make it cordial, Riju Dhatta and Rohan.
25:42That's what I'm saying.
25:42He is wishing me the best of luck.
25:44I am thanking him for that.
25:45Okay, so both of you should say best of luck to each other.
25:48National spokespersons of the two parties really appreciate your time.
25:52Thank you for joining us.
25:54Tomorrow, of course, is the big day, phase two of Bengal elections and our special coverage
26:01begins at 7 a.m.
26:02So do tune in.
26:03Thanks so much for watching.
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