The BJP on Friday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks on the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing her of threatening unrest in the state if the Election Commission proceeds with the exercise.
The party alleged that Banerjee’s comments amounted to an attempt to intimidate the constitutional body and warned that such statements undermined democratic principles.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, addressing reporters in New Delhi, described Banerjee’s remarks as “shocking” and “a matter of concern”. “She said if SIR is conducted, there will be riots and several other consequences in Bengal which will be horrifying… This means Mamata ji is threatening that if a constitutional process starts in Bengal, she will engineer riots and terrible consequences,” Patra said.
Patra accused the West Bengal Chief Minister of placing herself above the Constitution. “Mamata Banerjee, it’s your arrogance that you consider yourself above the Constitution of India and the country's judicial system. Remember, you can not be bigger than Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution, no matter how many times you have served as a CM or PM,” he remarked.
Also read: Election Commission gears up for SIR in Bengal
The BJP leader further alleged that Banerjee’s remarks were driven by an attempt to safeguard “illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators” who, he claimed, were not entitled to participate in Indian elections.
Patra also cited recent incidents of violence targeting BJP workers in the state. “Mamata Banerjee has already started a riot in West Bengal with recent attacks on BJP leaders, including the party's tribal MP Khagen Murmu. You have started the riot, we will stop it democratically. The TMC will lose and the BJP will win (in the upcoming elections),” he asserted.
Banerjee had on Thursday accused the Election Commission of “acting under political influence” and “threatening” her government officials, warning that any attempt to tamper with the voter list would amount to “betrayal of democracy”.
The Chief Minister had said that the BJP was “playing with fire” in the name of the SIR and suggested that the process could trigger unrest across Bengal.
The SIR, conducted periodically by the Election Commission, is meant to verify voter lists to remove discrepancies and ensure fair representation ahead of elections.
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