NRC and SIR: Allegations and Concerns Raised by Mamata Banerjee

PTI, KOLKATA, NOV 26, 2025: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was aimed at implementing the NRC "through the backdoor", and creating fear among ordinary people. Speaking to reporters after garlanding the statue of B.R. Ambedkar at the Red Road on the occasion of Constitution Day, Mamata alleged that the fundamental rights were under threat.

"I am observing with sorrow that people's voting rights are being taken away, their religious rights are being taken away. Attacks are being made using vile language, and no one is being spared, not even Dalits, minorities or the common Hindu voters," she said, with the Constitution in her hand.

"NRC is the real intent behind this. We are shocked and saddened. This is why I take the pledge here today to protect India's democracy," the Chief Minister added.

Mamata alleged that people who have "nurtured the soil of this country for years" were now being asked to prove their right to live in India. "In the name of citizenship rights, an atmosphere of intense fear has been created," she added.

In a post on X earlier in the day, she said that when democracy is at stake, secularism is in an "endangered situation", and federalism is "being bulldozed", people must protect the valuable guidance that the Constitution provides.

Mamata said the Constitution is the backbone of the nation, masterfully weaving together the diversity of India's cultures, languages, and communities. "Today, on this Constitution Day, I pay my deepest respect and tribute to the great Constitution that we have, to the great document that binds us in India. I also pay my tribute today to the visionary framers of our Constitution, especially Dr B.R. Ambedkar, its principal architect," she said.

"On this sacred day, we reaffirm our commitment to the core democratic values enshrined in our Constitution and commit to vigilantly safeguarding the sacred principles that define and sustain us as a nation," the Chief Minister stated.

Interacting with reporters, she claimed that people of the state were distressed by the SIR exercise. "People are crying uncontrollably. Unless you witness that heart-rending grief and their desperate cries, you cannot understand. Those who are doing politics over this are a shame to the country. I condemn them," she said.

"In the recent Bihar election, they went door to door offering Rs 10,000 before the polls, and then after the votes were cast, they looted everything. People's houses have been demolished in Bihar. We have to unite against this," she added.

The Election Commission on Wednesday wrote to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma over the protest by a section of BLOs at the West Bengal CEO's office, calling it a "serious security breach", and sought an action taken report within 48 hours.

However, the Chief Minister blamed the "arrogance" of the EC for the long siege by protestors at the CEO's office. In the letter, EC secretary Sujeet Kumar Mishra said the existing security at the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal appeared to be inadequate to handle the situation.

Alleging "excessive work pressure" and "unmanageable workload" due to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a section of booth-level officers (BLOs) held a 30-hour demonstration outside the CEO's office till Tuesday evening.

"The existing security in the office of the CEO appeared to be inadequate to handle the situation, which could lead to a threat to the safety and security of the Chief Electoral Officer, Joint Chief Electoral Officers, Deputy Chief Electoral Officers and other officers and staff working in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer," the EC said in the letter, a copy of which was marked to the chief secretary, state home secretary and the DGP.

Speaking to reporters after garlanding the statue of B.R. Ambedkar, Mamata apparently referred to the CEO as 'khudey kursi babu' (junior chairholder), and questioned why the BLOs were made to wait for hours outside his office just to put forth their concerns.

"BLOs are perishing under work pressure not just in Bengal but also in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. I think that the demands of these officers are just and legitimate. Why did they have to sit for 48 hours to get an audience with the CEO? Is there no value in their time?" she asked.