North 24 Parganas, 1 November (H.S.): All India Matua Mahasangh has announced a hunger strike against the SIR process. Mahasangh President and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mamatabala Thakur said on Saturday that a large number of Matua community members could be removed from the voter list if SIR is implemented. Fearing this, she has demanded the repeal of SIR. The hunger strike will begin in Thakurnagar on November 5th.
The SIR process is being implemented in West Bengal along with 12 other states. Starting November 4th, BLOs will go door-to-door to carry out SIR-related work. On the same day, Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee and TMC All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee will also launch a protest against the process. The Matua Mahasangh has now decided to intensify its protest.
On Saturday, a meeting of the Matua Mahasangh was held in Bongaon, where the decision to launch a hunger strike was made. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mamatabala Thakur said, No Matua's name can be removed from the voter list. North 24 Parganas district has the largest number of Matua voters. If SIR is implemented, many of them may be removed from the list, raising questions about their citizenship in the future.
She also launched a scathing attack on BJP MP Shantanu Thakur and other BJP leaders, alleging that the BJP is spreading lies about SIR. They should have protested, but they are silent.
Mamatabala Thakur stated that the fast-unto-death will begin on November 5th in front of the home of 'Bado Maa' Binapani Devi at Matua Thakurbari in Thakurnagar. She said, This fight is not just for the Matua community. People from other castes and religions are also with us.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
