KOLKATA/KESHIARY: Mamata Banerjee alleged on Saturday that EC’s SIR was a “big scam” aimed at “bringing BJP to office” in Bengal, warning of backlash against those enforcing SIR. “Voters are being deleted indiscriminately. Remember, out of 90 lakh voters deleted, 60 lakh are Hindus and 30 lakh Muslims. It would be proved one day that SIR was a huge scam. Those trying to please their bosses by torturing and harassing people will get justice,” she said at a rally in West Midnapore’s Keshiary. “More than 250 people have died due to the SIR exercise… Since we speak in Bengali, are we not Indians? Do we need to constantly prove our citizenship?” she asked. She flagged alleged targeting of Lodha and Sabar communities during SIR. She accused BJP of planning to tamper with EVMs and spreading fear. “It is being said that those deleted from Bihar rolls will not get rations… their bank accounts will be frozen. I will not allow any such thing in Bengal,” she said. – Dwaipayan Ghosh & Sujoy Khanra
