Furfura Sharif Pirzada receives SIR hearing notice, alleges targeting of minorities before West Bengal Elections

Pirzada Taha Siddiqui of Furfura Sharif has received a hearing notice from the SIR, adding another name to a growing list of prominent figures summoned by the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of the upcoming West Bengal elections. The development has intensified political reactions in the state, with the Trinamool Congress alleging targeted harassment through the hearing process.

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Allegations of targeted harassment in minority-dominated areas

Taha Siddiqui said on Friday that he received the SIR notice on Thursday. He also claimed that he had heard a notice might be issued in his father’s name, despite his father having passed away. According to Taha, people from the minority community are being harassed in the name of the SIR.

He alleged that across West Bengal, the majority of hearing notices issued by the SIR have gone to Muslims. Taha claimed the exercise is being carried out at the instigation of the BJP, asserting that the party believes Muslims in the state vote for the Trinamool Congress. "A conspiracy is underway to find ways to exclude the Muslim vote," he said.

Political reactions and wider impact of SIR hearings

In the Furfura panchayat area, there are 14,000 voters, of whom 7,000 have reportedly received SIR hearing notices. Among them, 6,850 are minority Muslims. Taha also stated that notices have been issued to Hindu citizens as well. According to him, 150 Hindu families have received notices, which he claimed were due to their support for the Trinamool Congress. He alleged that those perceived to be Trinamool voters are being issued SIR notices, calling the process a conspiracy.

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Earlier, hearing notices from the SIR had also been sent to several well-known personalities, including Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, actor Dev, former Mohun Bagan president Swapan Sadhan Bose (Tutu), and poet Joy Goswami. The Trinamool Congress has claimed that prominent figures are being "humiliated" by being summoned for hearings.