Kolkata, 6 August (H.S.) – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday issued a fierce warning to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling it a ploy to introduce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. Speaking from the stage of the ongoing language movement after a march in Jhargram, Banerjee declared, “If anyone wants to remove names from the voters’ list, they will have to cross my dead body first.”

Addressing a public meeting, she reiterated her firm opposition to NRC. “I do not accept NRC, and I never will. There is a conspiracy to delete names, but I will never allow it,” she said, accusing the central government of using the SIR process to push NRC in Bengal, thereby endangering the rights of millions.

Banerjee hinted that the 2026 Assembly elections would centre on Bengali identity. Speaking from the land of tribal leaders Sidhu and Kanhu, she urged people to set aside political differences and unite in defence of their homes and identity. “Forget political differences — you must protect your home and your identity yourself,” she said.

The Chief Minister accused the Centre of attacking the Bengali language and culture, questioning, “In which language did Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekananda, and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar speak? In which language are the national song and the national anthem?” She said these moves amounted to an assault on Bengal’s culture, language, and history, which would not be tolerated.

Banerjee reminded the gathering that she had called for a language movement in Kolkata on July 21, and that Jhargram marked her second major rally in this campaign. She vowed to continue the fight to protect Bengal’s identity and rights, urging the public to take active part in the struggle.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh