Kolkata, 06 January (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that she would move the court over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking from Gangasagar, the chief minister said she would approach the court as soon as it reopens on Tuesday and, if required, would personally argue the case.

Targeting the Election Commission over the SIR process, Mamata Banerjee described the issue as a “fight for survival.” She said the state government would take legal recourse and follow the constitutional path. The chief minister alleged that people were being harassed and that several deaths had occurred in connection with the ongoing exercise. She stated that if necessary, she would file an application and seek permission from the court to present her arguments.

Mamata Banerjee clarified that she would not appear as a lawyer but as an ordinary citizen. She said her objective would be to place the ground realities before the court and highlight what she described as the actual situation faced by people during the SIR process.

Without naming him directly, the chief minister once again took a swipe at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Using sharp words, she said, “Mr Vanish Kumar, no detention camps in Bengal,” reiterating her opposition to any such move in the state.

She further said that people were willing to cooperate with the SIR process and wanted their names included in the electoral rolls. However, she argued that such a large-scale exercise should have been carried out over a period of 2 years instead of being rushed.

The chief minister also raised concerns over the difficulties faced by elderly persons and pregnant women during hearings conducted as part of the SIR. She termed the process in its current form as inhuman and said it could not be accepted under any circumstances.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh