Democratic rights of all genuine voters must be upheld: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday emphasised the need to uphold the democratic rights of all genuine voters even as the Trinamool Congress is gearing up for an anti-SIR fight by kindling Bengali-speaking people's sentiments in connection with SIR. Trinamool has been claiming that SIR is a mechanism to implement NRC through the back door. Speaking about the freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindra Nath Tagore, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel among others, she said, "Everyone should have equal rights. Under the Constitution, every person enjoys equal rights. Humanity is the biggest religion."

Meanwhile, Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee attacked CEC Gyanesh Kumar, his daughter and son-in-law, and their respective official postings, amid the ongoing SIR. Abhishek asked whether Gyanesh Kumar or Union home minister Amit Shah or the railway minister or the finance minister can produce their parents' birth certificates. Abhishek also visited the residence of the man who died by suicide in North 24 Parganas district's Panihati over fears of NRC. Pradeep Kar (57) was found hanging at his residence on Tuesday morning and the suicide note mentioned that he feared the NRC.

The AITC leadership said that one lakh people will gherao the EC office in New Delhi if the name of even a single legitimate voter is deleted from the electoral list during SIR exercise.