Netaji's Grandnephew Slams SIR Hearing Process as 'Hasty and Unplanned'
Chandra Bose, the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and a former BJP leader, has voiced strong criticism of the Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls process. He, along with his wife and three children, received notices for an SIR hearing without any cited reasons.
Family Summoned for Hearing in Kolkata
Bose and his family members attended the hearing in Kolkata on January 16. This was the same day Nobel laureate Amartya Sen appeared for a similar hearing through a representative in Santiniketan. Bose stated that Election Commission officials mentioned no discrepancies during his appearance.
"Netaji's grandnephew, too, needs to prove his Indian citizenship. Which direction is India moving?" Bose questioned. He clarified that he had no issue with attending the hearing but expected a valid reason to be provided.
Election Commission Responds to the Controversy
The Bengal Chief Electoral Officer issued a statement on social media platform X. The statement explained that Bose was called for the hearing because the enumeration form showed blank linkage columns filled by the elector. He was summoned along with other similarly placed electors as per Election Commission of India notification.
The statement firmly labeled claims that Bose was asked to prove his nationality as "misleading."
Bose Criticizes Timing and Execution of SIR Process
Bose acknowledged the necessity of the SIR process but argued it could have been conducted after the assembly polls. He described the current handling as "hasty and unplanned," resulting in significant voter harassment.
"It seems BJP wanted to get it done before the assembly elections. But what have the polls got to do with it? Unless BJP wants some names struck off the voters' list, which would help them win the polls," Bose speculated. He added that BJP itself faces challenges as many of their voters, including Matuas, struggle to provide SIR documents.
Bose serves as convenor of The Open Platform for Netaji and previously held the position of vice-president in the Bengal BJP unit.
Long-Standing Voter Status Questioned
Bose pointed out that his name has appeared on the voters' list since 2002, making him a "mapped voter." He believed this status should have been sufficient to avoid a hearing. "Despite that, I was called, along with my wife, daughter and two sons. My sons are abroad, so I appeared for them," he explained.
The family provided their passports as documentation but received no confirmation on whether this met the requirements. Bose contested the 2016 assembly polls from Bhowanipore and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Kolkata South as a BJP candidate, losing both before leaving the party.
Process Inconveniences and Endangers Citizens
Bose described standing in a queue for over an hour during the hearing. "It is fine... but there should have been a valid reason for calling us," he insisted. He expressed alarm over elderly individuals being forced to travel 40-50 kilometers to attend hearings.
"People are dying on the way... The whole process is botched up," Bose stated bluntly, highlighting the severe consequences of the current system.
Other Political Figures Receive Notices
The controversy extends beyond Bose. A hearing notice was issued to Mathurapur's TMC MP Bapi Haldar on a recent Saturday. He has been instructed to appear before EC officials between noon and 2:30 PM on January 28. This timing conflicts with the first day of the budget session in Parliament, forcing him to miss it.
Additionally, an SIR notice was served on Sagardighi's TMC MLA Bayron Biswas and his two brothers on the same Saturday, indicating a broader pattern of summons.
