So far, 16 deaths have been reported in connection with the SIR process. Anxiety among those whose names did not appear in the 2002 SIR is increasing. To tackle this, a special team has been formed by the All India General Secretary of Trinamool Congress, Abhishek Banerjee. Comprising senior leaders of Trinamool, the committee has been entrusted to visit the homes of those who died due to SIR-related panic. They will be meeting the family members, extending all possible support under the supervision of Abhishek Banerjee.
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On November 4, the same day the BLOs began door-to-door enumeration form filling, Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by Abhishek Banerjee and other party leaders, hit the streets. After a massive rally in Kolkata, at a meeting in Jorasanko, Abhishek criticised the SIR process, saying that earlier, people chose the government; now the government is choosing the voters.
He also expressed concern over the successive deaths caused by SIR-related panic, stressing that no eligible voter should be excluded from the electoral process and if needed, he would take the matter to Delhi. He further accused the BJP of using SIR as a tool for revenge since it has been facing defeats in West Bengal elections repeatedly. The special committee has been formed to stand with the people now.
From today, its members will begin visiting homes. In North 24 Parganas' Panihati, MPs Samirul Islam and Partha Bhattacharya will visit the house of Pradip Kar. In Titagarh, Minister Shashi Panja and student leader Trinankur Bhattacharya will make visits. In Dankuni, Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and Sudip Raha will go; in Hooghly, Jaya Dutta, and in Uluberia, Arup Chakraborty will visit. Also, one local leader will accompany the team both in Hooghly and Uluberia.
