Kolkata, 21 March. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government was trying to “take away the franchise” of the people through the revision of voter lists ahead of the assembly elections. Addressing thousands of worshipers after Eid prayers at Red Road in Kolkata, Trinamool Congress chief Banerjee alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists is part of a wider attempt to influence the electoral process in the state. Trinamool claims that names of voters have been removed on a large scale through SIR.
Banerjee said, “We will not let (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and the BJP take away your voting rights. We will fight till the end to protect democracy and the rights of every citizen.” Banerjee’s comments come amid the intensifying political controversy over the exercise of reviewing the voter list, which the Trinamool Congress has been terming as an attempt to remove the names of genuine voters ahead of the assembly elections, especially in minority dominated areas. Banerjee said that her party will oppose every attempt to disenfranchise voters in the name of revision or verification of voter lists.
“Those who are targeting Bengal and trying to divide people should go to hell,” he said amid thunderous applause from the people present in the gathering. Referring to West Bengal’s old tradition of communal harmony, the Chief Minister said that the state will not allow forces trying to polarize the society to succeed. He said, “Bengal believes in unity. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, everyone lives together here. We will not let anyone break this social fabric.”
The annual Eid gathering on Red Road is one of the largest such events in eastern India. It is often used as a political platform in election years, allowing parties to reach out to the state’s large Muslim electorate. This class constitutes about 30 percent of the state’s population. The political importance of this year’s event has increased as crucial assembly elections are to be held in the state in which the Trinamool Congress is trying to secure a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP is trying to consolidate the gains made in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 2021 assembly elections.
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