South 24 Parganas (West Bengal) [India], January 5 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging large-scale harassment of voters and warning that her government would take legal steps, including approaching the Supreme Court, to protect people's rights.
Addressing a public meeting at Gangasagar in South 24 Parganas district, Banerjee claimed that around 54 lakh names had been deleted from the voter lists in the district alone. She alleged that artificial intelligence was being misused to remove names and accused the Election Commission of functioning like a "WhatsApp Commission".
In a direct personal jibe, the Chief Minister referred to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as "Vanish Kumar", warning that if people's rights were made to "vanish", those responsible would face consequences. She asserted that there would be "no detention camps in West Bengal" and said she would challenge any such move legally.
Banerjee alleged that elderly citizens above the age of 85, pregnant women and seriously ill people, including those on oxygen support, were being summoned during the SIR process, calling it inhuman and unacceptable. She claimed that "nearly 70 people had died and several had attempted suicide due to harassment" linked to the revision exercise.
Questioning the credibility of documentation demands, Banerjee said Aadhaar cards issued by the Government of India were now being rendered meaningless. She also highlighted issues faced by women whose surnames or addresses change after marriage, leading to the deletion of their names from voter lists. Spelling mismatches between English and Bangla names and the non-acceptance of government-issued certificates, such as caste certificates, were also cited by her as reasons for wrongful deletions.
The Chief Minister said her government was not opposed to the SIR in principle but objected to what she described as its "forceful" implementation, especially in an election year. She accused authorities of trying to create unnecessary problems ahead of the polls.
Banerjee also raised concerns over the alleged targeting of Bengalis in BJP-ruled states, claiming that "people had been tortured or lynched for speaking Bengali". Asserting her cultural identity, she said she would continue to speak in Bengali and warned against attempts to intimidate Bengal, describing the state as "the land of the Royal Bengal Tiger".
Reiterating her government's welfare commitments, Banerjee assured that the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme for women would continue without interruption, including for beneficiaries above the age of 60. She also alleged that a leader linked to "Delhi-based leaders" had made remarks suggesting women should not be allowed to step out to vote, calling it a criminal threat.
The Chief Minister said courts would reopen soon and her government would initiate legal action to safeguard the interests of common people, adding that if necessary, she would personally approach the Supreme Court "not as a lawyer, but as a common person." (ANI)