Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday intensified her confrontation with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India, announcing that she will launch a nationwide yatra to oppose what she described as the “coercive and politically motivated” Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Speaking at a massive anti-SIR rally in Bongaon, Banerjee warned that any attempt to target her or destabilise Bengal would have far-reaching consequences in national politics. She asserted that the SIR initiative was being run with the “sole intention of harassing voters in Bengal” and accused the Election Commission of operating as the “BJP Commission”.
The Trinamool Congress chief alleged that the revision process had caused widespread fear and chaos, claiming that around 35 people had died under pressure during the verification drive. She reassured genuine voters that her government would not allow any wrongful exclusion from the electoral roll.
“Don’t fear if you are a legitimate voter. After years of silence, they suddenly begin SIR and ask people to sign that they were Bangladeshi before becoming Indian. As long as I am here, no one can strike you off the list,” Banerjee declared, drawing loud applause.
She questioned why similar exercises were not undertaken in BJP-ruled states, accusing the Centre of hypocrisy and failure in controlling illegal cross-border movement. “Border security, airports, everything is under the central government. If infiltrators are entering, why blame Bengal?” she remarked.
Banerjee predicted that the BJP would face defeat in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections and would be removed from power at the national level in 2029. She delivered a fiery warning:
“If they try to harm me in Bengal, I will shake their foundation across India. After the elections, I will travel across the country. Bangla has the courage—Bangla will show Delhi what real strength looks like.”
