Biswabrata Goswami
GHATAL, 5 AUG: Amidst the sharp escalation of the political storm brewing over the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Centre during her visit to flood-hit Ghatal, accusing the Union government of orchestrating a “calculated game plan” in collaboration with the Election Commission to destabilize the citizen verification process in the state.
Raising serious concerns over the ambiguity surrounding the documents required for SIR, the Chief Minister echoed the anxiety of thousands of citizens who now fear that their long-established identity proofs—such as Aadhaar, EPIC (voter ID), and ration cards—might be rendered invalid in the verification process.
“Which documents will be considered valid then?” Mamata demanded, addressing the press after her visit. “These cards—Aadhaar, EPIC, ration card—were issued by the Central government and the Election Commission of India. Billions of rupees have been spent to issue them. Why should they be rejected now?”
Her remarks came in the backdrop of a growing unease among the public over the SIR process, which many believe could be a precursor to a National Register of Citizens (NRC)-like exercise in Bengal. The Chief Minister warned that the Centre’s move could disenfranchise countless voters, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, who might struggle to furnish alternative documentation.
Miss Banerjee also criticized the Election Commission for allegedly distancing itself from Aadhaar as a valid identity proof in the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings related to SIR. “If Aadhaar, issued by the Government of India, and EPIC, issued by the Election Commission, are not valid, what is left?” she asked. “This is a sinister ploy being orchestrated between the Centre and the Election Commission.”
Accusing the BJP-led Centre of playing with the democratic rights of citizens, Miss Banerjee asserted that the state government would not allow any such move that threatens to invalidate the fundamental identity proofs of the people of Bengal. “This is not just a bureaucratic procedure—it is a direct assault on democracy,” she said.
In a strongly worded advisory to the residents of Ghatal and the state at large, she urged, “Ensure your names are in the voter list. Be alert, be vigilant.”
The Chief Minister’s remarks have added fuel to the already heated political discourse in Bengal, where issues of citizenship, documentation, and identity have remained particularly sensitive since the NRC and CAA debates erupted in recent years.
While the Election Commission has not yet issued a formal clarification on the list of accepted documents for SIR, the confusion on the ground has created a breeding ground for speculation, fear, and political accusations.
