TMC MP accuses ECI of targeting West Bengal after SIR summons to Amartya Sen, Shami, film stars

Kolkata: Slamming the Election Commission of India (ECI) after Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen was sent a notice to appear for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee accused the poll body of targeting citizens from the state.

What did Abhishek Banerjee say?

Pointing out that SIR notices have issued to prominent figures from West Bengal including Indian pacer Mohammed Shami and actor-politician Dev, Abhishek Banerjee accused the ECI of trying “to discredit and harass everyone”.

"This is so sad, they have sent a notice to Amartya Sen, who won the Nobel Prize for India, enriching the country and making it more renowned on the world stage. They have also sent a notice to cricketer Mohammed Shami, who played for India in the World Cup. They have sent a letter to the renowned actor Dev. It's an attempt to discredit and harass everyone," he said during his address at the TMC rally.

"In the name of SIR, BJP-ECI nexus is targeting people of Bengal. When I came here I got to know Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen who brought global recognition for our country has been served hearing notice," the TMC MP added.

The Election Commission is yet to issue a official statement regarding Abhisek Banerjee's claims about Amartya Sen.

Who else has received SIR summons?

Trinamool Congress MP and actor Dev, whose real name is Deepak Adhikari, has also been summoned to appear for a SIR hearing along with three other members of his family. Dev is the TMC MP from Ghatal constituency in West Midnapore district. Although he was born there, he later moved to Mumbai with his family before returning to West Bengal and achieving success in the Bengali film industry.

Dev is not the only one from the Tollywood film industry to be summoned after the SIR process in West Bengal. Popular actor Anirban Bhattacharya had also received a hearing notice earlier. He is also originally from West Midnapore and later moved to Kolkata with his family for work.

According to the ECI, Anirban is that he did not provide any documents from 2002 while filling out the SIR enumeration form which prompted the summona for a hearing. Kaushik Banerjee and Laboni Sarkar, an actor couple residing in the  Tollygunge area of Kolkata, have also received SIR hearing notices. They appeared at the hearing center on Monday morning.

The Election Commission had earlier summoned Indian cricket team pacer Mohammed Shami and his brother, Mohammed Kaif, to appear for the SIR hearing. Shami is scheduled to appear for the SIR hearing on January 9 and 11, as he is out of the state representing Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.