Kolkata, 10 January (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar again on Saturday regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the electoral roll. In the letter, the Chief Minister alleged that common people are being unnecessarily harassed in the name of SIR and that the entire process lacks human sensitivity.

Mamata Banerjee wrote that the way the SIR process is being implemented is creating fear and mental pressure among ordinary citizens. She claimed that people are under stress due to the hearings and notices related to SIR, and this is leading to serious consequences. The Chief Minister also mentioned in the letter that several people have even died due to the fear of SIR.

The Chief Minister alleged that the SIR process has become excessively machine-based, ignoring ground realities and human aspects. She said that not only common people, but also well-known personalities of the country are being harassed by this process. Mamata cited examples, stating that Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, poet Joy Goswami, actor Deepak Adhikari (Dev), and cricketer Mohammed Shami have also been sent notices for SIR hearings.

In the letter, Mamata Banerjee also questioned the role of the observers and micro-observers appointed for the SIR hearings. According to her, they have been appointed without adequate training, and many observers are working beyond their authority. The Chief Minister alleged that in some cases, common people have even been addressed with derogatory language.

The Chief Minister also criticized the Election Commission's portal and the so-called 'logical discrepancy' list. She questioned why the portal being used in West Bengal is different from those used in other states. She also expressed apprehension that the entire process seems to be aimed more at removing names from the voter list than at improving it.

In her letter, Mamata Banerjee also highlighted the problem of migrant workers. She said that adequate alternative arrangements have not been made for those who are outside the state due to employment, preventing them from participating in the process. At the end of the letter, the Chief Minister expressed hope that the Election Commission would take the public's grievances seriously and implement necessary reforms in the SIR process. He also indicated that he might not receive a response to this letter, but felt it was his duty to bring the public's suffering to the commission's attention.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey