West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called the SIR process a ploy by the central government. She alleged it is a scheme to disenfranchise voters. She reiterated that SIR will not be implemented in Bengal.
Mamata SIR Protest: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made a serious accusation against the central government and the Election Commission, stating that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar is being carried out at the behest of the BJP-led central government. She termed it a completely politically motivated move, stating that the scheme is designed to deprive voters of their rights.
What is the SIR Process and Why the Opposition?
The objective of SIR, or Special Intensive Revision, is stated to be the correction of irregularities in the voter list and the removal of fraudulent voters. However, the opposition alleges that under this process, specific communities, the poor, and migrant sections will be deliberately excluded from the list. There have been continuous protests on this issue in both houses of Parliament.
Bengali Speakers are Being Sent Back, Labelled as Bangladeshis: Mamata
During a visit to flood-affected areas in the West Medinipur district, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that Bengali-speaking citizens of Bengal are being forcibly sent back, labelled as Bangladeshis. She termed this unconstitutional and dangerous.
She says that this is not a plan limited to just one state, but a conspiracy to extend and implement it across the country. She warned that if this scheme is attempted to be implemented in West Bengal, she will bly oppose it.
Demand for Documents Described as Impractical
Mamata Banerjee described the demand for birth certificates of parents from citizens under this process as impractical and inhumane. She said that the majority of the country's population does not possess such documents. In such a situation, excluding them from the voter list would be against democracy.
She said, "If a person does not have the birth certificates of their parents, will their name be removed from the voter list? Is this democracy?"
All Religions Will Suffer
Mamata Banerjee claimed that if this scheme is implemented in the state, it will not affect just one religion or class, but all communities. The poor, Dalits, tribals, Muslims, Hindus—all will be affected by it.
Opposition's Protest Continues in Parliament
Opposition parties are continuously protesting against SIR in both houses of Parliament. They allege that this process is a strategy to exclude voters before the Bihar assembly elections. Opposition leaders say that the BJP wants to control the vote bank through this scheme.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that when she opposed this process, demands for her arrest also arose in some circles. She claimed that there is talk of arresting her under the National Security Act (NSA).
She said, "I know that attempts will be made to suppress me. But I will continue to fight to protect the constitution and democracy."
Accusation of Trying to Implement NRC
Mamata Banerjee also said that the central government wants to implement a process like the National Register of Citizens (NRC) by making SIR a medium. She warned that this threatens the unity and integrity of the country. She said that this process can never be successful in a state like Bengal.