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Key Points

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticized the Election Commission's special intensive revision (SIR) process in West Bengal. She argues that the timing is inappropriate, considering the ongoing festive season and recent natural calamities affecting document submission. Banerjee suggests the revision might be an attempt to delete voters from a specific community. She further alleges a potential conspiracy to enforce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) through this voter list update.

Key Points: Mamata Warns ECI Over Voter List Revision in Bengal

  • Mamata opposes ECI's voter list revision timing amid festive season
  • Highlights challenges for flood-affected voters in document submission
  • Accuses ECI of potential NRC-like conspiracy
  • Claims central agencies attempting voter list manipulation
3 min read

Will not tolerate deletion of names of particular community from voters' list after SIR: Bengal CM

Bengal CM challenges Election Commission's special intensive revision, warns against community-based voter deletion during festive and calamity season

"I will not tolerate it if the names of people from any particular community in the state are deleted - Mamata Banerjee"

Kolkata, Oct 9

Amid indications that the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s special intensive revision (SIR) in West Bengal will start after October 15, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that she would not tolerate the deletion of names of voters from one particular community in the state following the voter list revision.

She also accused the ECI of unnecessarily hurrying to begin and complete the SIR process in West Bengal at a time when, on one hand, the festive season in West Bengal is and, on the other hand, several people in rain and landslide-hit regions in North Bengal are struggling to come out of the crisis as a result of the natural calamity.

"I will not tolerate it if the names of people from any particular community in the state are deleted from the voters' list because of this unnecessary hurry. I am asking them (ECI) not to play with fire. A crisis situation because of a natural calamity is still prevailing in West Bengal. Houses of several people have been washed away because of the flood. In such a situation, from where will they furnish the necessary documents for the SIR? Some are on vacation because of the ongoing festive season. How will they furnish the documents?" the Chief Minister asked while addressing media persons on Thursday afternoon.

Her comments come at a time when a Central team, led by the Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, is on a two-day visit to West Bengal to review the preparedness for SIR.

The Chief Minister also targeted a section of the commission's officials without directly naming anyone and accused them of working beyond their authority.

"One particular officer has several charges of corruption against him. I will reveal those when the time comes. I hope that he will not act beyond his authority. He is unnecessarily threatening the state government officials. The state administration is yet to be taken over by the ECI. Then why is the Commission holding meetings with the booth-level officers now," the Chief Minister asked.

Claiming that two residents of Nadia district have received the National Register of Citizens (NRC) just after the Durga Puja, CM Banerjee said that the development justifies her apprehension that the Union government was trying to impose the NRC in West Bengal in the name of SIR.

"Why were NRC notices slapped in the name of SIR? Are they (Union government) trying to enforce the NRC in the state? They will never be successful. The SIR is actually a conspiracy to delete the names of genuine voters from the voters' list. A saffronisation attempt of the Central agencies is going on," the Chief Minister said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As a Bengali living in Kolkata, I appreciate Didi speaking up for us. During Durga Puja and with floods in North Bengal, this voter list revision feels insensitive. Let people celebrate and recover first! 🙏
R
Rohit P
While I support ensuring voter list accuracy, the timing and approach matter. The Election Commission should consider the practical difficulties people are facing. Natural calamities and festivals are genuine concerns that need accommodation.
S
Sarah B
The mention of NRC notices is worrying. We've seen what happened in Assam - genuine citizens lost their voting rights. If SIR is being used to target specific communities, that's completely unacceptable in a democracy.
V
Vikram M
Both sides need to work together for fair elections. The EC has a constitutional duty, but the state government's concerns about timing are valid. Hope they find a middle path that doesn't inconvenience citizens.
M
Michael C
The corruption allegations against EC officials are serious. If true, this undermines the entire electoral process. Proper investigation needed before proceeding with any voter list revision.

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