'Lakhs of Rohingya infiltrators': BJP demands immediate SIR, house-to-house search in West Bengal

Suvendu Adhikari, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assemby. (File: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday demanded that the Election Commission of India conduct an "immediate" Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls on the lines of what is underway in poll-bound Bihar.

A BJP delegation led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari marched to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Kolkata to officially place the demand. The meeting with CEO Manoj Agrawal came on a day West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a massive protest march against alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-ruled states.

Adhikari said that the ruling Trinamool Congress has allowed "lakhs of Rohingya infiltrators" to be registered on the state's electoral rolls and demanded an immediate "house-to-house search" to identify them.

“Rohingyas from Myanmar are entering West Bengal via Nepal and Bangladesh borders, leading to a demographic shift, particularly in North and South 24 Parganas districts,” Adhikari said addressing a press conference after meeting the EC official.

“We want a house-to-house search immediately. We want an SIR,” BJP MLA from Nandigram said, while urging the CEO to ensure transparent operations and seeking 50 percent of state and central government workers on deputation.

The BJP leader further said that Mamata's rally was held to "protect the Rohingyas" and that the Chief Minister was not bothered about the change in demographic in the state.

"She is only worried about the voters’ list. She is on the street because of a fear psychosis. Because she knows that if, after Bihar, the Election Commission starts a random survey, then names of approximately one crore Rohingya would be deleted from the voters’ list,” the BJP leader claimed.

Last month, the Election Commission of India directed a nationwide SIR beginning with Bihar, which is set to go to polls later this year. The Opposition has alleged that the drive was being carried out at the BJP's behest to deliberately disenfranchise lakhs of genuine voters.

West Bengal, which has been at the centre of illegal immigration -- Mamata Banerjee first raised it in Parliament as a young Congress MP -- is expected to be in the thick of this unfolding poll drama. Bengal goes to polls next year.

The TMC, on its part, has alleged that the issue of illegal migrants entering the country falls in the domain of the BJP government at the Centre since the borders are manned by Border Security Force (BSF).

"Mamata Banerjee has sent her Krishnanagar MP (Mahua Moitra) to the Supreme Court (against the SIR in Bihar). The chief minister says it is the responsibility of the BSF. Why didn’t you give land to the BSF?" Adhikari said countering Mamata's allegations against the BJP.

Adhikari also cited the recent suspension of a government official from Kakdwip sub-division in South 24 Parganas over alleged discrepancy in the voters’ list, warning that any Booth Level Officer (BLO) colluding with the TMC would face similar consequences.