As EC readies SIR for Bengal, Left leaders take notes from CPI-ML leader on Opp’s Bihar playbook

Accusing the BJP government at the Centre of trying to create “undocumented citizens” in the country, the CPI-ML leader said a conspiracy is being hatched to steal the voting rights of people. “It is going on, and our fight should therefore continue. We have to stop that conspiracy.”

He also told the Left leaders that after the “success” of the Vote Adhikar Yatra, the INDIA bloc partners are preparing for a “bigger” movement in Bihar.

Taking cue from the CPI-ML leader’s remarks, CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Salim said the fight against SIR in Bengal has to start from the booth level, and all the Left parties should unitedly oppose it.

“We will depute  BLAs as many as possible, but it is not possible to mobilise people in every booth across the state. So, we will have to work together. All the Left parties should be united,” Salim said

He also called for involving people who are opposing SIR in their individual capacity. “We should include them also. It is our challenge to protect the right to vote of every citizen. We will have to remain alert to stop any deletion of a genuine voter’s name from the electoral list,” he said, and accused the BJP and RSS of “trying to squeeze the space of democracy” in the country.

Noting that the Supreme Court is still seized of the matter, Salim advised “wait and watch”. “The question now is what will be the Supreme Court’s verdict and how much its directives were implemented in Bihar,” Salim added.

On Monday, the Supreme Court, which is hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the conduct of SIR in poll-bound Bihar, said the publication of the final voters’ list for Bihar will not prevent the court from intervening if it is satisfied that there is some illegality in the exercise.

The court on September 8 allowed Aadhaar as the 12th document for inclusion in the voters’ list, but added that it was an “interim arrangement”.

Last month, the Election Commission (EC), setting the stage for revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, asked the Chief Secretary and the District Election Officers (DEOs) in the state to step up preparations, including making necessary appointments, for the impending exercise.

TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been opposing the SIT, had warned the people of West Bengal against filling up any form by the EC related to the SIR without “knowing the details”.