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Kolkata, Nov 25 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed apprehension that there could be chaos in the state after the publication of the draft voter list on December 9 at the end of the first phase of the three-phase Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
“After the draft list is published, there will be terrible chaos. I can realize it now. Due to the internet problem, booth level officers (BLOs) are having difficulty in uploading the enumeration forms on the BLO app. Often, there are errors in uploading the forms. I have heard that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in the SIR exercise. This is being done to replace genuine voters with false voters,” the chief minister said in North’s Bangaon. said while addressing a mega ‘anti-SIR’ rally in. 24 Parganas District.
However, he assured that the state government will provide all possible help to the people in providing documents to retain their names in the voter list.
The Chief Minister said, “We do not disrespect our promises. Our politics is for the welfare of the people. So do not worry. As long as Trinamool Congress is there, you will be safe.”
Without naming her directly, Chief Minister Banerjee accused BJP’s Lok Sabha member from Bongaon constituency and Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur of neglecting the people of Matua community present in large numbers in Bongaon during this time of crisis and also of going abroad during that period.
“After paying some money for the form, someone had gone abroad. Why he (Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur) had gone abroad is a mystery? Possibly, he had gone abroad to keep himself safe. But we have all the necessary records against him. If necessary, we will demand his arrest,” the Chief Minister said.
Given the large number of people from the Matua community in the city, Bongaon was chosen as the venue for the ‘anti-SIR’ rally on Tuesday.
Trinamool Congress had already started campaigning that the names of people from the Matua community would be removed as a result of the SIR.
The Matuas are a backward class Hindu population who came as refugees from neighboring Bangladesh and settled in various districts of West Bengal, which have international borders with the neighboring country.
The Matuas are mainly located in Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts.
However, the state BJP leadership has assured the people of the Matua community that, apart from illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators who managed to get their names registered in the voter list, no one else needs to worry about the voter vetting exercise.
–IANS
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