SIR brainchild of BJP-led central govt, alleges Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was the brainchild of the BJP-led central government with the connivance of the Election Commission.

Banerjee, on a visit to flood-affected Ghatal in Paschim Medinipur district, also asserted that Bengali-speaking Indian citizens were being branded as Bangladeshis and sent to the neighbouring country.

''This (SIR) has been planned by the central government, keeping the Election Commission with it. We do not agree with it," she said, contending that it is not possible for everyone to preserve parents' birth certificates for the exercise.

The chief minister said she will not accept any attempt to introduce the SIR in West Bengal, where assembly polls are due in 2026.

"People practicing all religions will suffer if the special intensive revision is introduced in the state," Banerjee claimed.

She also alleged that attempts were underway to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the name of SIR.

Opposition parties have been protesting in both Houses of Parliament against the SIR, alleging the EC's exercise was aimed at ''disenfranchising voters'' in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections in that state.

Banerjee reiterated that migrant workers from West Bengal were facing harassment in some states, "owing to their mother tongue".

The CM also claimed that since she protested such acts, there has been a demand in some quarters that she be arrested under the National Security Act (NSA).

Asked about a person who was allegedly served a notice from Assam, she wondered how the government of the neighbouring state was sending such a directive to a resident of Bengal.

''I respect all languages, but no one should try to disrespect my mother tongue,'' she said.

After taking stock of the flood situation in Ghatal, Banerjee said funds will be disbursed to farmers who suffered losses, from the state's crop insurance scheme.

Maintaining that the central government has "stopped funds for flood-affected areas or those under the Ganga Action Plan'' in West Bengal, the chief minister said, ''We have to provide for everything''.

Banerjee said her government has been providing funds for the 100-day job guarantee scheme, housing for the poor and rural roads.

Noting that Bengal is a riverine state, she said it gets affected by water released from Nepal, Bhutan and the Damodar Valley Corporation during monsoons.

''After the 2026 assembly elections, we will find a way to arrest the water released by the DVC,'' she said.

Banerjee also claimed that the DVC released a record volume of water this year.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)