Rights groups rally in Kolkata against voter roll revision, allege NRC-like process

Kolkata: Civil liberties organisations, including the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), staged a protest rally in Kolkata on Saturday opposing the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.

The rally, which began at College Street and concluded at Dorina Crossing, was organised to voice concerns that the SIR process could be a precursor to implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.

APDR General Secretary Ranjit Sur alleged that the SIR process mandates every individual aged 18 and above to submit a detailed form, including a self-declaration and proof of birth details for themselves and their parents. He questioned the rationale behind collecting such extensive personal data, which will not appear on the voter ID card.

Sur said that they want an accurate voter list, not SIR, noting that the electoral roll has already undergone two revisions. He warned that the current process shifts the burden of proving citizenship onto individuals, which he described as contrary to the Indian judicial system and beyond the Election Commission’s mandate.

Sur also cited a 2019 attempt to link similar data collection with the national census, which was halted due to public opposition. He expressed concern that many citizens may struggle to provide the required documentation, potentially jeopardising their voting rights and citizenship status.

The rights groups further claimed that commonly accepted identity documents such as Aadhaar and voter ID cards are not being recognised under the SIR process, heightening fears of disenfranchisement among vulnerable populations.

(Inputs from IANS)