Kolkata: The 135th birth anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar was observed in the heart of Kolkata on Monday, marked by protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
The SIR exercise, termed unconstitutional by sections of civil society, prompted organizers including Votadhikar Rakhya Mancha to deliberately choose the day to highlight the plight of genuine voters whose names were deleted from the rolls, effectively barring them from voting in the upcoming Assembly elections.
‘Excluded’ Without Explanation: New SIR Tag Deepens Uncertainty for Voters
Among those present was Dr Nandita Roy, a professor at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, who joined hundreds of others—many of whom said their names had been removed from the voters’ list following the SIR.
“I had to think before coming here, but I did—not just for myself, but for every genuine voter who has been deleted. I have been anxiously checking the list, and yesterday I saw that my name has now been marked as ‘Excluded’,” Dr Roy said at the gathering in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area.
The SIR exercise in Bengal, announced on November 4 last year, has seen several new categories introduced over time—from “Logical Discrepancies” to “Under Adjudication”, “Tribunal Hearing”, and now “Excluded”. However, it remains unclear whether this new terminology has been introduced on the instructions of the Supreme Court or by the Election Commission itself. It is also unclear whether the term “Excluded” applies to all deleted voters or only to those whose forms are currently under review.
Researcher Sabir Ahamed, one of the speakers, highlighted that Muslims account for a disproportionately high number of deletions across the state, particularly in the Malda–Murshidabad region.
‘This Is About Citizenship, Not Just Voting’: Faridul Islam’s Desperate Appeal
Activist Sheikh Faridul Islam, whose name was reportedly deleted due to an incorrect translation of the prefix “Sheikh” from Bengali to English, said he had written to the President of India and the Chief Justice of India expressing a wish to die, breaking down while narrating his ordeal.
The 40-year-old said, “There are at least six people who have written to the President and the CJI expressing a wish to die. This is not just about voting rights, but about citizenship. I know what happens to people who are labelled illegal citizens. I am doing this for everyone, and for my son, who will face hardship if this is not corrected.”
On the occasion, ordinary women, along with their families, also took the stage, expressing deep fears about their very existence after their names were deleted from the voter list.
A signature campaign against the SIR was also conducted at the venue.
The event featured several revolutionary songs and concluded with Hum Honge Kamyab Ek Din (We Shall Overcome).
Transgender persons and members of the eunuch community also participated.
