Kharagpur Voters Stage Angry Protest Over BJP Candidate's 'Anti-National' Remark
In a significant development in Kharagpur, a group of deleted voters from Ward No. 25 organized a vocal protest outside the Bharatiya Janata Party district office on Sunday. The demonstrators were demanding a formal apology from BJP candidate Dilip Ghosh, who had reportedly referred to deleted voters as "anti-nationals" during his recent election campaigning activities.
Protesters Challenge Ghosh's Absence and Accusations
The protesters expressed deep frustration, accusing Ghosh — who served as Kharagpur Sadar MLA from 2016 to 2019 before moving to Parliament — of returning to the constituency after nearly a decade's absence only to label them with such serious accusations. "Our fathers' and grandfathers' names are on the voter list and we were born here — how did we suddenly become anti-nationals?" questioned one protester emotionally, capturing the sentiment of the gathering.
Ward No. 25 has been particularly affected by voter list deletions, with official records showing 353 deletions in this ward alone. The protesters emphasized that their families have longstanding roots in the area, making the "anti-national" characterization particularly hurtful and unjustified.
Background: Viral Video of Document Snatching Incident
The protest followed the circulation of a viral video showing a disturbing incident from Friday. The footage captured a local youth having his documents forcibly snatched by police personnel while attempting to confront Dilip Ghosh during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in the Kharagpur area. This incident appears to have further inflamed tensions between the candidate and local residents.
Ghosh's Dismissive Response
When confronted about the controversy, Dilip Ghosh offered a dismissive response. "I haven't called anyone an anti-national. If someone makes a fool of others, that is their fault, not mine," he stated, refusing to acknowledge the protesters' specific grievances or offer any conciliatory remarks.
The protest highlights growing tensions around voter list management and political rhetoric in the lead-up to elections. With 353 deletions in just one ward, the issue of voter eligibility and political representation has become a flashpoint in Kharagpur's political landscape, raising questions about how candidates engage with constituents whose voting rights have been recently altered.
