Mamata Banerjee Accuses Centre of Misusing SIR, Vows ‘No Detention Camps in Bengal’

By A Staff Reporter

Murshidabad: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Centre, alleging that the implementation of the State Identification Register (SIR) has already resulted in 40 deaths and was introduced deliberately to disrupt the State government ahead of the upcoming elections. She announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives and ₹1 lakh for those currently undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Banerjee claimed that the SIR was brought in “just three months before the polls” with the intention of obstructing administrative functioning. She questioned why SIR was being implemented only in non-BJP-ruled states such as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, while “bordering BJP-ruled states” had been exempted.

Accusing the BJP of attempting to set up a “detention camp in Bengal,” the Chief Minister declared that no such facility would be permitted. She urged citizens to remain alert and ensure their documents were in order, assuring that Trinamool Congress workers would set up assistance camps at every booth to help people fill out necessary forms. “Please attend the hearing. Otherwise, your name will be deleted. We will help you,” she said.

Banerjee further alleged that the BJP’s actions were targeted at minorities, Matuas, and Rajbanshis, and stressed that even among the reported SIR-related deaths, several were Hindus. She also warned voters in Bihar and Bengal against supporting independent candidates, claiming that they could indirectly help the BJP by splitting votes.

Dismissing what she described as misinformation campaigns around the Waqf Act, Banerjee said such narratives were being spread by “communal forces.” She added that Rohingya populations were present in “double-engine BJP states, not here,” urging people not to be misled.