Kolkata | By Qalam Times News Network
Rohingyas have once again emerged at the centre of a political storm in West Bengal, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded an immediate Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Addressing the media after meeting Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal in Kolkata, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of facilitating the inclusion of “lakhs of Rohingya infiltrators” in the state’s voter list.
Adhikari alleged that Rohingyas are entering the state through porous borders with Nepal and Bangladesh, causing what he described as a “dangerous demographic transformation”—especially in the districts of North and South 24 Parganas. Citing the ongoing SIR in Bihar as precedent, he urged the Election Commission to replicate the same mechanism in West Bengal without delay.
BJP Seeks House-to-House Verification, Alleges Voter Fraud
Leading a BJP delegation of MLAs to the CEO’s office, Adhikari demanded a “house-to-house survey” to detect and eliminate illegitimate voters allegedly belonging to the Rohingya community. “We insist on an immediate Special Intensive Revision and door-to-door verification,” he declared, adding that at least 50% of the workforce involved in the process should be deputed from both state and central services to ensure impartiality.
In a sharp political attack, Adhikari said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s protest rally—held on the same day to oppose alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-ruled states—was “nothing but a march to protect Rohingyas.”
War of Narratives: BSF, Supreme Court, and Administrative Bias
Reacting to the TMC’s claim that immigration and border control fall under the jurisdiction of the Centre and the Border Security Force (BSF), Adhikari shot back, “If that’s the case, why did Mamata Banerjee’s party block land allocations for BSF posts? And why did her MP from Krishnanagar approach the Supreme Court to oppose SIR in Bihar?”
He further accused the former Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Ariz Aftab, of “biased conduct” and warned that any Booth Level Officer (BLO) found colluding with the TMC would face action similar to that taken recently against an official in Kakdwip, who was suspended over alleged electoral irregularities.
Fake Aadhaar Racket and Growing Concerns
In addition to raising the alarm over Rohingyas in the voter list, Adhikari also pointed to the existence of a state-wide nexus manufacturing counterfeit Aadhaar cards. “This is not just about votes; it’s about national security and the integrity of our democracy,” he said, vowing to press for accountability at every level.
The BJP’s call for a Special Intensive Revision rooted in the Rohingya issue has added yet another layer to the already charged political atmosphere in West Bengal. As the state gears up for upcoming civic and legislative contests, the demand for voter list scrutiny may intensify the Centre-state friction, especially over the sensitive matters of migration, security, and citizenship.
