Kolkata, 7 August (H.S.) -
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a strong public warning, urging citizens not to fill out any electoral forms without fully understanding their implications. Speaking at a public rally in Jhargram on Thursday, Banerjee alleged that a systematic attempt is underway to remove names from the voters’ list, similar to what she claimed has already occurred in Bihar.
Her remarks come in the backdrop of ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, where she alleged nearly 6.5 million names have already been deleted. “Now Bengal is next,” Banerjee declared, accusing the central government of orchestrating a similar plan in West Bengal.
“Don’t fill out any form without understanding it. Don’t give anyone your address. Under the guise of routine processes, people may be asked to fill in details which could later be used to exclude them from the voter list,” Banerjee warned.
She also stated that merely possessing an EPIC (voter ID card) is no longer sufficient, and that names already listed may still require re-registration under new rules. “Even new voters are being asked to submit their parents’ birth certificates. Where will they find such documents?” she asked, expressing concern over the feasibility of these demands.
Banerjee went further, accusing the Centre of trying to strip people of their voting rights and suggesting a deeper conspiracy: “They want to remove your name from the list and send you to Bangladesh,” she said, in a sharp political attack.
Addressing recent disciplinary actions taken against four West Bengal government employees — including the suspension of two WBCS officers — Banerjee expressed her displeasure and demanded clarity. “Under what law have they been suspended?” she questioned, asserting that the state government stands firmly with its officers.
Banerjee also raised the issue of linguistic pride, slamming BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya over a remark in which he allegedly said that “Bengali is not a language.” In response, the Chief Minister displayed an image of a 1912 ten-rupee note that included the denomination written in Bengali as proof of its historic legitimacy.
She also highlighted the plight of Bengali migrant workers facing mistreatment in other states and urged people of West Bengal to unite against such injustices. “We must raise our voices together. This is not just about one community or group — it’s about the rights and dignity of all Bengalis,” she said.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh