SIR will sound BJP’s death knell, it will lose Delhi: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA/PURULIA: SIR will sound BJP's death knell, CM Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday, adding that "in its effort to destroy Bengal, BJP will end up losing Centre." Speaking at an election rally, Banerjee also urged voters to derail BJP, which had "forced them to stand in queues".

Saying that BJP had to resort to SIR and delete names because if feared Bengal's voters, Banerjee said, "I fought against this on the streets and in the Supreme Court. Why is BJP afraid of electors? Babus from Delhi are coming and vanishing the names of the electors. The BJP is a washing machine with vanishing powers."




Addressing three back-to-back rallies in West Burdwan and Purulia, Banerjee pointed out how SIR had targeted married women the most, especially those of minority communities. "Most married women have been placed under adjudication, since their surnames and addresses have changed after marriage. How I write my name is my prerogative. You have used AI and created confusion. Muslim women have been mercilessly deleted from the voters' list. Don't you feel ashamed that you have included names of judges in the adjudication list," asked Banerjee.

Addressing woman voters as co-warriors, the CM said: "My mothers and sisters here, let me tell you that they will try to create disturbances with central agencies. They will try to rig the elections. They will try to purchase people. That money is impure. Don't commit mistakes. They are openly giving people notes of Rs 500... I would also like to tell the women that the Vanish Washing Commission will spread lies on the days of polling and counting. They will try to favour BJP. Don't fall for their trap. Protect the EVMs. Make sure that they are not able to tamper with machines. You need to build resistance like Matangini Hazra. Give BJP a befitting reply."

Questioning yet again why supplementary lists were still not in public view, the CM said, "The Supreme Court ordered supplementary voters' lists be published. I have not seen the list until now. Some are saying that out of 27 lakh adjudicated names, 40% have been removed. How will people apply to tribunals if the list is not published? Why will tribunals not be set up in every district? I have heard that they are being set up only in Kolkata."

Saying that while SIR was primarily targeting one specific community, Banerjee warned that others were not safe either. "You (EC) can't snatch away the voting rights of people in the name of SIR. You will have to make sure that every legitimate voter gets the right to vote. There have been cases where only one member of a family is on the voters' list while four others from the same family have been struck off. Targeted deletion has happened. Today it has happened to one community; tomorrow it will happen to another. They will implement NRC and send people to detention camps. I will not let that happen," she said.

Banerjee added that BJP was trying to create divisions and "incite violence between Adivasis and Mahatos".