West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit out at the Narendra Modi government after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive began in the state, saying if the current voter list is false, then the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Center is also ‘false’.
Addressing a protest rally, Banerjee criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to demonetise currency notes in 2016 and said it did not bring any black money back into the country.
She said, “With which voter list have you been winning for the last 24 years? BJP government, if this list is false, then your government is also false, your post is also false. They divide, sow lies. Every year they have to do something or the other. Once they came and demonetized. I was the first to oppose it. Tell us today, has black money returned?”
Banerjee intensified her attack on the Center over the Election Commission’s statement in the Supreme Court that Aadhaar cannot be a conclusive proof of citizenship.
Accusing the Center of fraud, the West Bengal Chief Minister said the Center took Rs 1,000 from common people for making Aadhaar cards and did not accept it for voter ID cards, but not for opening bank accounts. Banerjee stressed that the best solution would be to change the central government in Delhi.
He said, “How much money did you pay for Aadhaar card? You (Centre) take Rs 1,000 from every person. If you took Rs 1,000 from the public to make Aadhaar card, why are you still not asking for Aadhaar card for voter list? Not Aadhaar card for ration card? But while opening a bank account they demand to link Aadhaar card. Whom are you cheating? It is best that you make a change and ban the Delhi government from the country. Remove it. How many cards will you make? Ration card, PAN card, caste certificate, labor card.”
Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday led a massive rally organized by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders against the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) exercise by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the state, with the recent deaths being attributed to the same.
The second phase of SIR campaign has started today in 12 states and union territories (UTS).
Thousands of TMC supporters took part in a huge rally organized to protest against the start of SIR exercise in West Bengal. They were seen raising slogans, waving TMC flags and supporting Mamata Banerjee, who was leading the march carrying a copy of the Indian Constitution.
Before leading today’s massive rally against the ‘anti-Bangla’ politics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Banerjee paid homage at the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar.
“Honouring our founding father, he reminded the nation that the Constitution has assured us of equality, dignity and citizenship and it is our duty to protect it. Today’s rally is for this promise, to protect the rightful place of every citizen in this democracy,” TMC posted on Twitter.
Banerjee was accompanied by prominent TMC leaders, including party national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, who addressed a gathering during the protest march and lodged strong objections to the ongoing SIR exercise.
Expressing condolences to the families of those who died due to “fear” of SIR, Abhishek Banerjee warned of protests in Delhi next.
Banerjee said, “After the announcement of SIR, we today express our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives due to it. Today we participated in the protest rally against SIR. BJP should consider whether we can organize such a big gathering in 2 days; when we go to Delhi for our protest, how big will be our crowd? Family members of those who died due to fear of SIR in the last 7 days are present with us in today’s rally. Now preparing for the next destination, Delhi.” Do. We are ready to fight against SIR in Delhi.”
Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said the election body will conduct the second phase of SIR in the following states: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
According to the ECI, printing and training will take place from October 28 to November 3, followed by the counting phase from November to December 4. The draft voter list will be published on December 9, followed by a period for claims and objections from December 9 to January 8, 2026.
The notice stage (for hearing and verification) will take place between December 9 and January 31, 2026, followed by the publication of the final voter list on February 7, 2026.
