Naxalbari, March 25 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that eight lakh names have been deleted from the first supplementary list of 27 lakh voters whose voting eligibility was being adjudicated as part of the SIR exercise.
Addressing an election rally in Naxalbari in the Siliguri subdivision of the Darjeeling district, she criticised the BJP for "causing misery" to the people by enforcing an "ill-planned SIR".
The chief minister demanded that physical copies of the supplementary list, published online, be made immediately available so that the information on the deletion figure could be verified.
"Although I am not sure, I have heard that eight lakh names of 27 lakh voters under adjudication have been deleted from the first supplementary list. But where is that list? Why have hard copies of that list not yet been put up in government offices?" she asked.
"I can only verify the information after that list is displayed," she added.
Stating that the "lack of transparency" over addition and deletion figures in the first supplementary list has left affected citizens in a state of uncertainty, Banerjee said that the TMC would set up camps to assist such citizens with free legal consultancy.
"Only after that list is displayed in booths can those whose names have been unfairly deleted, fill out application forms to move tribunals. We have to fight this according to the provisions of law, and the TMC will provide legal assistance to every victim free of charge," she declared.
The first supplementary list, containing the names of approximately 60 lakh voters under judicial scrutiny, was published by the Election Commission late on Monday night.
However, the poll body is yet to officially confirm either the total number of adjudicated voters in that list or the deletion figure, amidst initial claims from Manoj Agarwal, the West Bengal chief electoral officer, that around 29 lakh cases have been disposed of so far.
Holding the BJP responsible for "220 deaths caused by SIR", the chief minister claimed that "the BJP should be ashamed of the fallout from SIR". She claimed that half of those who died were Hindus and the other half were Muslims.
No official data or confirmation of deaths during the exercise to revise the electoral rolls is, however, available in the public domain.
"Members of the Adivasi, scheduled caste, and Rajbanshi communities were singled out and sent hearing notices," the CM said.
Without directly naming the BJP and the EC in her speech, she said that "two brothers were now working together to hatch conspiracies" against the people of Bengal.
Banerjee alleged that when elderly citizens were made to stand in SIR queues and their citizenship was questioned, "how can the BJP dare to come to the same people seeking votes?"
"As long as I am around and the TMC government is in power, there will be no NRC exercise in Bengal, and no detention camps will be allowed to be built," she declared.
Hitting out at the EC for transferring top administrative and police officials of the state on the eve of polls, Banerjee held the poll body accountable for possible disruptions in providing essential services to people.
"For the first time, the EC transferred officers outside the state without consulting an elected chief minister. Who will provide food to people and build their roads? Who will assist them when calamity strikes? They don't realise that I may break, but I will not bend," she asserted.
