New Delhi

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj on Thursday criticised the Trinamool Congress over the alleged gherao of judicial officers in West Bengal’s Malda district, calling the incident a serious blow to democratic functioning.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Swaraj said the episode reflected a breakdown of law and order, alleging that individuals linked to the ruling party confined several judicial officers, including women, for hours during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

She stressed that the SIR process is not politically motivated but a constitutional requirement, and urged Parliament to send a strong message against such incidents. She also called on the central government to take firm action, stating that such “anarchy” cannot be tolerated.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India has taken serious note of the incident, criticising the state administration for its alleged inaction. The court described the situation as a complete failure of governance and ordered an independent investigation, to be carried out either by the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency.

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The court also remarked on the extent of political polarisation in the state while underlining the gravity of the incident.