Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee has issued an open challenge to the BJP and the Election Commission (EC) regarding the death of Pradeep Kar, a 57-year-old trader who died by suicide on Tuesday in Panihati, North 24 Parganas district, over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue. This has sparked a political storm in West Bengal. "Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar (Chief Election Commissioner) are responsible for these deaths. If the BJP and EC have the guts, lay hands on the people of Bengal and show us," he said.
The TMC MP added, "Can Amit Shah show his birth certificate? Starting from the prime minister and other cabinet ministers, can they show their birth certificates? The norms say get your father's and grandfather's certificates. Tie them (BJP, EC officials) to a tree. Ask them to get all their certificates and show them to the people."
Banerjee, who visited Kar’s family on Wednesday afternoon, said that he and his party would take to the streets on Thursday to seek justice for him.
The BJP has reacted sharply to Banerjee’s comments. Party leader Rahul Sinha said, "We cannot take the law into our hands. The TMC is a party of hoodlums, and they take the law into their own hands and instigate people.
"The reason why the person committed suicide is not clear—whether he died due to family issues or other reasons. We have our doubts about what Mamata Banerjee has posted on social media. Despite our doubts, we still say that if he died because of the NRC, Mamata Banerjee is responsible because there is no reason for anyone to be scared of the NRC in West Bengal. The fear-mongering and lies are due to Mamata Banerjee, which is why she is responsible for Pradeep Kar’s death."
Kar was found hanging from the ceiling at his house, and a diary recovered by police contained several notes on the NRC. One page had a line saying, "NRC is responsible for my death." While the NRC has been implemented in Assam, it has not been implemented in West Bengal.
"I am ashamed that a political party can stoop to such levels. He has written clearly that he died due to the NRC, and you still want to play politics around this?" Banerjee asked.
The Diamond Harbour MP also brought to light another case regarding the SIR – an attempted suicide in Dinhata, Cooch Behar, which is in north Bengal. The attempted suicide was over the fear of being branded an outsider following the SIR exercise. "While speaking to his brother, I learned that another person in Dinhata attempted suicide by drinking poison. He has been taken to the hospital," he said.
Banerjee’s controversial comments come a day after Kolkata Mayor and TMC leader Firhad Hakim, after an all-party meeting convened by the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal to discuss the way forward for the rolling out of SIR, said, "If the BJP and the Election Commission try to impose the CAA together, I will break their legs."
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The meeting called by Agarwal on Tuesday was to ensure the smooth functioning of SIR and to request representatives of the eight registered political parties to provide one Booth Level Agent (BLA) to work in tandem with each of the 294 Booth Level Officers (BLO) to ensure no voter is left out of the electoral revision process and to weed out fear among voters. "No eligible voter will be left out," said Agarwal after the meeting.
Kar was a resident of his locality for almost five decades and had relevant documents, yet his fears of being left off the electoral list or ceasing to be a citizen of India continued. This incident also highlights the blurring of lines in voters’ minds between the NRC and SIR. Even as Opposition parties like the TMC, Congress, and CPI(M) have reiterated that SIR was a disguise for the NRC and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), camps were being held in the same location. Agarwal explained that while the CAA is being conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), SIR is being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). "CAA concerns are raised by political parties; it is not being done by the EC," said Agarwal.
The West Bengal CEO, however, said that no formal complaint was received over Kar’s death and that if there is a formal complaint, the EC will look into the matter. As far as reassuring other voters across the state of the EC’s credibility and responsibility, Agarwal said, "We have a concrete team, and we hope to prepare a voter list that is 100 per cent perfect."