Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday stated that while some Hindu names have been removed from the electoral rolls in West Bengal, such sacrifices are necessary for the betterment of the nation. Speaking at a press conference, Sarma remarked, 'Some Hindu names were deleted in the SIR (special intensive revision) process. How will the country survive if the Hindus don't sacrifice? To us, it is the Hindus who have made a little sacrifice to make Bengal and India a little better.'
Message from Bongaon Rally
Sarma elaborated that he had conveyed the same sentiment during rallies in Bongaon on Friday. 'I was in Bongaon and I told them that this is the price we are paying for national security. Maybe some of them will not be able to cast their vote this time. They will apply under the CAA the next time and become a citizen of the country,' he added.
Trinamool Cannot Exploit Issue
The Chief Minister dismissed the possibility of the Trinamool Congress gaining political mileage from the deletion of Hindu names. 'Didi (Mamata Banerjee) thinks that she can create anger among the Hindus with this issue. It will not happen this time. Hindus know that they have to sacrifice sometime and I think they have made up their mind. They accepted that their names will be included once the BJP is in the office,' Sarma asserted.
He further claimed that Hindus now understand that the names of 'Bangladeshi Muslims, which have been deleted, will be pushed out in the next step.' Sarma also invited the Election Commission to conduct a similar SIR process in Assam, stating, 'I invite them for SIR in Assam. A party cannot run a government with the votes of dead people.'
The remarks come amid ongoing political tensions in West Bengal over voter list revisions and the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
