“Target is BJP-free Bengal, will fight against SIR conspiracy’

Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on both the Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party at a rally in Kolkata, describing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a “conspiracy to snatch away citizens’ democratic rights.”

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Setting the tone for the party’s next phase of agitation, Abhishek declared that “the battle ahead is to make Bengal BJP-free.”

The rally began at Red Road and passed through Rani Rashmoni Avenue, Dorina Crossing and Central Avenue before culminating at Jora-sanko. Before addressing the gathering, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhi-shek paid floral tributes at a memorial dedicated to seven individuals, who allegedly died by suicide fearing loss of their voter identity under the SIR process. Expressing gratitude to supporters for walking the four-kilometre stretch in the afternoon heat, Abhishek said: “People lining both sides of the road blessed us with their love and trust. Those who died in fear of SIR all had valid names in the voter list. Today, anyone can be branded as Bangladeshi and thrown out at will. This cannot continue.”