West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a strong reassurance to citizens amid widespread concern over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, declaring that “no one will have to go to Bangladesh” and that her government will not allow any detention-related actions under the exercise. Addressing a public rally in Malda’s Gazole, she said the voter-roll revision had created panic across the state and accused the Centre of deliberately implementing it ahead of elections to unsettle the electorate.
Banerjee alleged that the SIR was being used as a political tool, claiming it had been introduced “cleverly” to create fear among voters, particularly those worried about documentation requirements. She stated that speaking Bengali, lacking specific papers, or belonging to certain communities would not lead to exclusion or harassment, adding that attempts to portray citizens as outsiders would not be tolerated under her administration.
To address public anxiety, the Chief Minister announced the launch of state-wide “May I Help You” camps from December 12. These centres will operate across all blocks in West Bengal, assisting people with paperwork and ensuring that eligible voters are not removed from the rolls due to technical or procedural issues. Banerjee urged people not to fall for rumours or misleading content circulating online, including what she described as fabricated and AI-generated videos aimed at stoking fear.
Shifting her focus to financial matters, Banerjee accused the central government of withholding significant funds owed to the state under various schemes. She criticised the Centre for allegedly blocking dues and centralising revenue through GST, arguing that this had weakened the state’s financial position and limited the resources available for crucial welfare programmes. Despite these challenges, she asserted that her government continued to run key schemes and would protect citizens from the impact of fiscal pressure.
The controversy around the SIR has escalated into a major political flashpoint in West Bengal, touching on sensitive issues of citizenship, identity, and electoral rights. Banerjee’s latest assurances and the rollout of assistance camps aim to calm public fears, even as tensions between the state and Centre intensify ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
