The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar’s alleged comments on the police.

The complaint was filed by TMC leaders and MPs Derek O’Brien, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Kirti Azad, Sakte Gokhale and Sushmita Dev. It alleged that Majumdar made a “false, derogatory and defamatory speech” during an election rally in West Bengal’s Taldangra on November 7.

“Sukanta Majumdar also insulted India’s state emblem and the state police, saying police personnel should replace the emblem on their uniforms with shoe-like icons.” TMC said in the complaint.

The party said the statements allegedly defamed the State Police and the national emblem, “suggesting its removal in a derogatory context”.

It said the remarks were “devoid of any factual basis” and were aimed at “undermining the credibility of the State Police”.

“This constitutes a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, defame a neutral law enforcement agency and create an atmosphere of mistrust and hostility,” TMC said.

The party alleged that it was a “politically motivated propaganda” by the BJP and violated the spirit of free and fair elections.

The party asked the poll panel to instruct BJP leaders to desist from “making unverified, defamatory and inflammatory statements” against the West Bengal Police and the TMC.

He also said that the Election Commission should sanction Sukanta Majumdar for trying to malign the credibility of the Police and cause “grave insult to the sanctity” of the national emblem.

“Direct Sukanta Majumdar to issue an unconditional apology for insulting the National Emblem of India to promote his oblique political agendas,” the party appealed to the poll panel.