"Why scared of SIR": WB BJP hits back at CM Mamata Banerjee

North Parganas 24 (West Bengal) [India], October 10 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being "scared" of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls a day after the ruling Trinamool Congress chief alleged that the "BJP is trying to place NRC in the name of SIR"

 "The original voters will not be affected, but the Bangladeshi voters will be ousted from the voters' list. This is why SIR is being conducted... Why are they scared of the SIR? It is a procedure that happens every 20-25 years. You are scared because the illegal Bangladeshi voters here will all be filtered out...," Ghosh told ANI on Friday.

Earlier on Thursday, CM Banerjee alleged that the BJP is using the SIR as a pretext to implement NRC and remove names from the voter list.

"In the name of SIR, they are trying to place NRC, want to remove names from the voter list, I assure you no genuine voter will be unlisted," Mamata said.

She warned the BJP against escalating tensions through their policies, accusing them of provocative actions, saying, "I warned the BJP, don't play with fire."

She challenged the BJP's use of central agencies to target her government, expressing readiness to confront such actions, saying, "If you think you'll take action against us through the agency, know that we're ready."

On October 6, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar informed that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists throughout the country after announcing the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections.

CEC Kumar said in the press conference, “ECI has already taken a decision to conduct SIR throughout the country". (ANI)