Those who are not on the voters’ list have no civil rights?

The measures now announced clearly proclaim that the BJP, having succeeded in seizing power in Bihar and subsequently in West Bengal, is giving top priority to implementing its declared agenda of eliminating religious minorities. The situation in which there is no strong opposition in either state paves the way for fascist regimes to move forward rapidly with actions that do not align with the essence of the Constitution. The inexcusable delay in the courts, where victims might go seeking justice, also provides a protective shield for the saffron governments. Following the overthrow of the Mamata Banerjee government and the seizure of power by Suvendu Adhikari — who moved to the BJP from the Trinamool Congress, a party known as a secular-democratic entity — with a massive majority in the last Assembly elections, the first measure announced was the complete denial of government benefits to all individuals whose names are not in the SIR (State Identification Register). One of the measures to be implemented immediately is the announcement by Food and Consumer Protection Minister Ashok Choudhary that five lakh people whose names are missing from the SIR are being removed from the list of ration cardholders. The minister also revealed that a meeting of departmental officials has been convened to scrutinise ration cards for this purpose. It should be noted that the Hindutva party had previously claimed that all these individuals were illegal infiltrators. The action is based on the determination that anyone whose name is not on the voter list is either a non-citizen or deceased. While the number of voters in Bengal was 7.66 crore before the SIR was cobbled together, 58.20 lakh people were initially excluded from the hastily prepared voter list. Later, this number rose to 91 lakh. Following the victims' recourse to legal action, the tribunal appointed by the Supreme Court was able to include only 1,607 people in the list within the short time provided.

Also read: Persons excluded in SIR won’t get welfare benefits, passbooks to be cancelled: Bihar CM

In Bihar, 68 lakh people had previously been excluded from the voter list. When massive protests erupted over this during the Assembly elections, the Election Commission's explanation was that the absence of a name from the voter list would not affect citizenship. However, an anti-human process has now begun in that state as well, categorising them as “Non-Indians” and denying them all civil rights. The BJP Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, has unequivocally declared that they will not receive benefits from any government welfare schemes. He has further threatened that their bank passbooks will also be cancelled in due course.

Also read: BJP govt appoints as Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal who oversaw SIR in Bengal

The latest order from Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari prohibits the offering of prayers (namaz) on the sides of major roads, including Red Road in Kolkata. The basis for the ban is that believers arriving for Friday prayers at certain roadside mosques sometimes overflow onto the roads. Following the model of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — who razed numerous mosques and madrasas using bulldozers, alleging that ownership of the land could not be proven through written documents — it is only a matter of time before similar actions are implemented in Bihar and Bengal. Incidents of innocent Muslims being caught and lynched in the name of cattle smuggling, or of the victims themselves being arrested and imprisoned for life on charges of cow slaughter, have become events that have lost their news value. In short, fascist governments and extreme Hindutva groups are unfamiliar with any humane policies or actions other than intense hatred, discrimination, animosity, and persecution. Even if there are religious teachers and gurus in the country who point fingers at the atrocities committed in the name of Sanatana Dharma, one must regretfully remember that they are not the ones dominating the scene. Although the flag-bearers of democracy and secularism have not yet been uprooted from the country, they too are alarmed in the face of various threats and pressures from fascism. Otherwise, they are on a path to destruction through infighting. When the Constitution, which completely rejects all forms of discrimination and guarantees equal citizenship and fundamental rights, is challenged in this manner, the great nation of India searches through the darkness of religious fanaticism for those courageous enough to fight for its supremacy.

Also read: BJP’s vote margins less than SIR deletions, TMC alleges: SC intervenes