On the occasion of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the central government and the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing them of undermining democratic institutions, distorting history, and presiding over a flawed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process that has allegedly led to multiple deaths in the state.
Addressing a gathering at Esplanade in Kolkata, Mamata invoked Netaji’s historic call of “Delhi Chalo,” saying that the national capital — once a symbol of the freedom struggle — has now become, in her words, a “centre of conspiracy.” She alleged that Bengal was being deliberately targeted and humiliated through a series of planned actions.
Focusing on the SIR issue, the Chief Minister claimed that several deaths in West Bengal were linked to the ongoing process and said these incidents could not be ignored. Directly questioning the ECI, she asked whether the Commission could evade responsibility and why legal action should not be considered in light of the reported fatalities.
Mamata also expressed concern over what she described as the erosion of constitutional values. Warning that the dignity of the Constitution was being weakened, she said such developments posed a serious threat to India’s democracy. She questioned whether even a national icon like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose would have been spared scrutiny today, if citizens were being issued notices over discrepancies in their names.
Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of working in tandem, Mamata alleged that democratic structures were being systematically weakened. She further claimed that the country’s history was being deliberately distorted, with the contributions of freedom fighters being downplayed or concealed in favour of an alternative narrative.
Her remarks came amid controversy over the Commission issuing a notice to Netaji’s great-grandson, Chandra Bose, in connection with the SIR process. Mamata sarcastically remarked that if Netaji were alive today, he too might have been summoned for an SIR hearing. The incident sparked widespread discussion on social media, with some questioning whether Netaji’s descendants would be required to prove their citizenship.
Responding to the controversy, the Commission clarified that Bose was called for a hearing because the ‘linkage’ column in his enumeration form had been left blank, and denied any political motive.
Also read: Mamata claims 110 deaths linked to SIR, releases poems
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