Kolkata: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday questioned whether the freshly launched census was effectively a “second SIR” for Bengal, alleging that political parties — including Trinamool — had been excluded from the process.“The census has begun, but political parties are not being involved. At least our party has not been included. Who will ensure whose name is retained or removed? Who can say a new SIR is not being carried out in response to the earlier one?” she said on Facebook Live.Returning to the SIR issue, she alleged that 3.2 million names had been deleted from the electoral rolls. “I went to the Supreme Court hoping for justice, but justice weeps in silence. That is why a mass movement and greater public awareness are needed,” she said.She also alleged that delimitation boundaries “were being redrawn.”Banerjee also launched a campaign over what she called BJP’s insults to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, directing her party’s IT cell to coordinate protests across Bengal.“I was aghast at how BJP netas spoke about Netaji, our national hero. I am deeply heartbroken. They insult Netaji, yet the govt raises no protest,” she said.“From the Planning Commission to Swaraj Dweep, from ‘Jai Hind’ to Azad Hind, these remain Bengal’s pride. Before coming to govt, BJP said secret files on Netaji would be opened. Where are they now? Locked away in some cupboard?” she asked.Attacking the Adhikari govt across a range of issues, Banerjee alleged denial of rally permissions to Trinamool, mass filing of cases against ordinary citizens, forcible takeover of panchayats and municipalities, stalling of Lakshmir Bhandar and Annapurna Bhandar benefits, eviction of hawkers without rehabilitation and the death of an ASHA worker due to “a BJP MLA’s arrogance.”She also alleged property grabbing in Bardhaman under the guise of pond restoration. “How many prisons does the state government have? You are filling them all up with daily arrests. Do you really think you can silence the voice of the people this way?” she said.
