– Shabana Javed
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress has moved the Supreme Court, questioning the “unusual haste” with which the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list has begun in West Bengal. Earlier, Tamil Nadu’s ruling party DMK had filed a similar case in the apex court, challenging the SIR.
On Monday, Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen and South Kolkata MP Mala Roy filed a petition on behalf of Trinamool. The case is expected to be heard on Tuesday by a bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Jayamalya Bagchi. Notably, when the SIR process began in Bihar, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra had also moved the SC. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sought a stay order on the ongoing process but has simultaneously directed the administration to assist citizens impartially with SIR-related work.
The launch of SIR has sparked widespread anxiety among sections of Bengal’s population. Reports of deaths and suicides allegedly linked to fear of SIR have surfaced. After visiting Siliguri on Monday to review post-flood administrative work, Mamata held a press conference at Uttarkanya, directing officials to help citizens sincerely with SIR documentation. “Be by the side of the people. Help everyone impartially. No one should feel helpless or take extreme steps,” she urged.
She assured flood victims that documents lost in the disaster would be restored under the state’s “Our Neighbourhood, Our Solution” programme. “No one should think of suicide. Genuine citizens must not be deprived. Don’t panic; stay strong,” Mamata added. Reaching out to all communities including Rajbanshis, Matuas, and Kamtapuris, Mamata reiterated that her government would stand by every citizen. “Those without documents still have ration cards, Swasthya Sathi cards, Lakshmi Bhandar benefits. Mention these; they will help you get verified. There are help camps, BLOs, and BLAs; seek their support,” she advised.
She also instructed DMs and BDOs to personally monitor SIR-related concerns and provide immediate assistance. Targeting the BJP without naming it, she condemned the “atrocities” allegedly committed against Bengali-speaking citizens. “Why so many deaths for speaking Bengali? Are you not ashamed? How many more lives will you take?” she asked emotionally. Drawing a parallel with the 2016 demonetisation, Mamata described the SIR as a ‘voting ban’, saying: “People once had to prove they owned their money; now they must prove they are citizens of their own country. What a disgrace! Why the sudden rush before elections? They could have taken two years, done a proper survey or census.”
She insisted the process cannot be completed in two months, alleging that the BJP was orchestrating it for political advantage. “If elections are announced in February, many will fail to get registered. Their names will be excluded again and again. This is like a super emergency officers are being overburdened just to cripple the government’s work,” she claimed.
The CM also questioned how BLOs, many of whom are school teachers, can handle both academic and voter list duties. “If they can work for only two hours daily, how many homes can they reach? This process needs time. I still believe it should be stayed,” Mamata said.
Mamata accused the BJP of running a ‘CAA office’ near their party headquarters and claimed that 14 people have already died due to fear linked to the SIR process. “They are even selling cards in the name of religion,” she alleged, adding that the enumeration forms prepared by the Commission are too complicated for many poor citizens to understand.
