1 week ago
Bengal Deleted Voters Demand Rights Amid Growing Fear and Uncertainty
Some people in Bengal were removed from the voter list during a special review.
Activists say many of these people were genuine voters and did nothing wrong.
They are worried that officials might say they are not citizens.
The activists also say some political leaders threatened to send deleted voters to Bangladesh.
A group called Sangrami Ganamancha is organising a peaceful rally on September 2.
The group wants genuine voters to get their voting rights back.
It also wants tribunals to decide appeals quickly.
The organisers say deleted voters should not lose access to government welfare programs while their cases are being considered.
Rights activists say millions of voters removed during Bengal’s special intensive revision fear being declared non-citizens.
Sangrami Ganamancha alleges that threats of deportation to Bangladesh have intensified anxiety among deleted voters.
The group will hold a mass rally on September 2 from Moulali’s Ramleela Maidan to Esplanade.
Organisers demand restoration of genuine voters’ rights, faster tribunal hearings, and continued access to welfare schemes.
Around 6.5 lakh voters were deleted in Kolkata and Howrah, with civic elections due in December.
- Who
- Deleted voters, rights activists including members of Sangrami Ganamancha, and the BJP are central to the report.
- What
- Activists are protesting the deletion of voters from Bengal’s electoral rolls and demanding restoration of voting rights and quicker appeals.
- Where
- The issue concerns Bengal, particularly Kolkata, Howrah, Malda, Murshidabad, North 24-Parganas, and Nadia. The rally will proceed from Moulali to Esplanade.
- When
- The concerns were raised at a Tuesday news conference; a mass rally is planned for September 2, ahead of civic polls due in December.
- Why
- Activists say genuine voters were wrongly excluded and fear being declared non-citizens or losing welfare benefits.
Key facts
- Issue
- Deletions from Bengal’s electoral rolls during a special intensive revision
- Activist platform
- Sangrami Ganamancha
- Planned rally
- September 2, from Ramleela Maidan in Moulali to Esplanade
- Main demands
- Restore genuine voters’ rights, expedite tribunal proceedings, and protect welfare access
- Deleted voters in two cities
- Around 6.5 lakh in Kolkata and Howrah
- Upcoming elections
- Civic polls in Kolkata and Howrah are due in December
- Tribunals
- SIR tribunals were established following Supreme Court directions and are headed by retired Calcutta High Court judges
Quotes
Kushal Debnath
Founding member of the platform campaigning for disenfranchised voters
“Enormous injustice has been done against a vast section of the population, especially minorities. They are our fellow citizens. The legal process is cumbersome and tedious. Unless we hit the streets, nothing will happen. Peaceful mass protests are imperative. The thought that I should not protest because my vote is safe is dangerous.”
telegraphindia.com
“If we want ‘bhoy out’ for real, these people must not be scared of being declared non-citizens. Most of them were deleted through no fault of their own. They are living in fear and uncertainty, which grows stronger every day.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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