West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, alleging it to be excessive. She stated that even Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose would have received a hearing notice if he were alive. Banerjee expressed concerns over indiscriminate issuance of notices for hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters’ list.
The Chief Minister accused the Narendra Modi-led Union government of distorting India’s history and undermining Netaji’s contributions. She highlighted the abolishment of the Planning Commission, which was Netaji’s initiative, and its replacement with NITI Aayog, questioning the purpose of this new entity. Banerjee also criticized the government for not declaring Netaji’s birthday as a national holiday, emphasizing the lack of awareness about his date of demise among the Indian populace.
In her address at a function commemorating Netaji’s 129th birth anniversary in Kolkata, Banerjee called for statewide protests against the ongoing SIR in West Bengal. She claimed that the revision exercise had inflicted significant hardships on ordinary citizens. The Chief Minister warned that those accountable for the suffering caused by the revision process would face repercussions in the future, without specifying any individuals or entities.
Banerjee made grave allegations linking the revision process to deaths and suicides in the state, citing around 110 reported deaths and multiple suicides. She demanded accountability from the Election Commission of India and the Union government for the situation, without singling out any specific political party responsible for the issues.
