West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Alleges SIR Exercise Anxiety Causing Daily Suicides
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reiterated her grave claim that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is leading to a tragic loss of life in the state. Speaking at a program on Red Road in Kolkata to commemorate the birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose on Friday, Banerjee asserted that anxiety over the SIR process is resulting in at least three to four suicides every day.
Banerjee Holds Election Commission and Central Government Responsible
In her address, the Chief Minister placed direct responsibility on the Election Commission and the central government for these deaths. "More than 110 people have already died; everyday three to four people are dying by suicide out of SIR anxiety," she stated emphatically. Banerjee highlighted that the SIR exercise, which is underway ahead of the upcoming assembly polls, has created widespread distress among citizens.
Accusations of Conspiracy and Insult to National Icons
Banerjee also launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of conspiring against Bengal. She claimed that revered national figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose, and B.R. Ambedkar are being insulted in the current political climate. This accusation was first made by her on Thursday during the inauguration of the 49th International Kolkata Book Fair, where she reinforced her stance against what she perceives as targeted harassment.
Release of Book on SIR Agony and Practical Challenges
At the book fair, Banerjee's 162nd book was released—a compilation of 26 poems that delve into the agony faced by people due to the SIR exercise. She detailed the practical hardships citizens endure, noting that scores of individuals, including the elderly, are forced to line up at SIR camps for hearings and wait for five to six hours daily in open areas. "Citing logical discrepancies, they (EC) are picking up issues like surnames of Bengalis which had been known and accepted for years," the Chief Minister criticized.
Controversy Over Surname Scrutiny and Age Verification
Banerjee provided personal examples to illustrate the surname issue, explaining that she is known as both Mamata Banerjee and Mamata Bandyopadhyay, and similar variations exist for other Bengali surnames like Chatterjee and Chattopadhyay. She pointed out that during British rule, Thakur evolved into Tagore, suggesting that such historical nuances are being overlooked. "Had Rabindranath Tagore been around, he probably would have faced the same situation now," she remarked, underscoring the absurdity she perceives in the scrutiny.
Furthermore, Banerjee raised concerns about age verification demands, stating that parents with multiple children are being asked to explain age gaps, and elderly individuals are required to provide proof of births. "Our mothers cannot tell us their exact date of birth. Even (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji had told me that December 25 is not his real birthday. I have Madhyamik papers to specify my date of birth. But there are many in the earlier generations who might not have it. Why harass them?" she questioned, advocating for more compassionate and practical approaches in the electoral revision process.
