West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to move court against 'inhumane' SIR

Kolkata: In fresh move to stop the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday that she will move court against the nationwide process being carried out by the Election Commission. 

What did the TMC chief say?

"We are moving court tomorrow against the inhumane treatment and the death of so many people due to the SIR," the West Bengal Chief Minister told the media. 

"If allowed, I will also move the Supreme Court and plead as a common person against this inhumane exercise. I am also a trained lawyer."

However, Mamata did not inform whether she will personally move to the court, or whether the state government or the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will do the honours. The TMC supremo claimed that several people died in the state due to what she alleged were "fear, harassment and administrative arbitrariness" associated with the SIR. 

What are Mamata's allegations against the BJP? 

Alleging that elderly and ill people were harassed during the SIR drive, the West Bengal CM claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Banerjee is discriminating against Bengali speaking people in other states. She said she will never stop speaking Bengali, daring the BJP to 'kill' her.

"How would BJP leaders feel if someone made their old parents stand in line to prove their identity?" she said.

"Since the SIR began, so many people have died due to fear, and several others are in hospital."