New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Momat Banerjee on Thursday alleged that the BJP -led central government is trying to snatch citizens of its rights under the guise of amending the state’s voter list. His comment came after the BJP demanded a special intensive amendment (SIR) of the election role in the state.Speaking at a public meeting in Jhargram, Banerjee said, “I am thinking, are we really free? I hope our citizenship will not be taken away. Please do not deprive us.” He accused the “double-engine government” that he was trying to detain the centers by losing Indian citizens as Rohingyas and sending them to Bangladesh.“The double-engine government is trying to snatch our citizenship, calling us Rohingyas, and pushing us back to Bangladesh,” she said. “BJP is always going to court. I have a ten-rupay note since 1912, and it is written in Bengali. Still they claim that there is no Bengali language.”Banerjee also claimed that SIR is a major NRC-related scheme behind activity. Referring to Assam, he said, “About seven lakh people have been removed from the voter list, including Hindu Bengalis. Notices are being sent to Cooch Behar and Alipurdar and Indian residents are being sent to Bangladesh.”A day earlier, Banerjee led a protest march in Jhargram, which he described as the oppression of Bengali speaking people in BJP ruled states. He said, “If real voters are removed from the voter list, I will protest all over the world. Even if you come to arrest me or shoot me, I will still protest against the insult of Bengali language.”He also criticized the Election Commission alleging prejudice. “Our two officials received notice from ECI about their suspension. There is no need to be afraid. There are eight to nine months left for the elections, but the BJP has started suspending people from now on. The ECI is working as an agent of the BJP, ”he said.In response, BJP MP and State President of Bengal Samik Bhattacharya accused Banerjee of preservation of illegal voters. “If she thinks that she can come to power for the fourth time with the help of Bangladeshi, Jihadis, Rohingya, illegal migrants and illegal voters, she is wrong,” he told ANI.Bhattacharya also criticized his comments against the SIR process, calling it an attack on constitutional institutions. He said, “Whatever Mamta Banerjee says, he should go to the Supreme Court and tell them. This government will go this time.”
