Controversy is intensifying in political and social sections regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) in West Bengal. An important conference was organized by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights on Monday (April 6, 2026) on this issue. Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Professor Ajit Jha, teacher Nadeem Khan, social activist Sabir Ahmed (online) joined this press conference and presented facts on the issue of SIR.
The most prominent issue in the conference was that names are being removed from the voter list on a large scale in West Bengal in the name of SIR and this is especially affecting the Muslim community. Speaking on this issue, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan said that a completely new voter list is being prepared in the name of SIR, which is against the established procedures. Giving the example of 2003, he said that at that time the amendment was made on the basis of the old voter list, but this time the entire list is being made afresh.
Prashant Bhushan accused the Election Commission
Prashant Bhushan clarified that no one’s name can be removed on the basis of citizenship in this way, unless a court or foreign tribunal decides that a person is not a citizen, it is legally wrong to remove his name. He alleged that these rules were not being followed in the SIR process. He also raised questions on the Election Commission and said that it is trying to influence the electoral process of the states sitting from Delhi.
According to him, the Muslim community is especially being targeted in West Bengal. He also said that under SIR, 10-11 documents are being asked from people, whereas the law does not allow doing so. Under Form-6, only general identity proof like Ration Card or Aadhar Card is sufficient, it is not necessary to provide separate proof of citizenship. He warned that if there is no civilian. So legal action can be taken against him, but removing his name without due process is wrong.
SIR was not used properly: Bhushan
Adding political context, Prashant Bhushan said that when the BJP government came to power, there was talk of Hindu Rashtra. He alleged that first an attempt was made to exclude Muslims through NRC and now an attempt is being made to remove their names by interfering in the electoral process through SIR. He also said that the SIR is being implemented in a hurry and the de-duplication software prescribed by the Election Commission is not being used properly, whereas the manual has a clear procedure for photo and demographic authentication.
Attack on people’s voting rights through SIR: Nadeem Khan
During this time, Nadeem Khan, associated with the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, also made serious allegations. He raised the question as to why the people whose names have been removed from the voter list are not coming forward. He himself claimed to have visited many areas of Murshidabad and Malda and said that in the areas where efforts are being made to make BJP win, the names of Muslim community are being removed systematically. He told that he also met two Booth Level Officers (BLO) and they have a list in which it is recorded that 534 names had to reapply at the polling station of Shabana Committee School, which means the entire polling station was almost destroyed.
According to Khan, all the names have been removed from many polling stations like Vidyasagar School. Wherever 100 percent names have been removed, people there are now raising their voice. According to him, this is a direct attack on people’s right to vote. He claimed that according to the available list, names of 87.9 percent Muslims have been removed.
Central agencies take action on protest: Nadeem Khan
Nadeem Khan also said that when people are asked why they are not protesting, the answer is that if they protest then action is taken against them by agencies like NIA. He also made serious allegations against the Election Commission, saying that it is running the election process arbitrarily and SIR is being implemented in selected divisions and assembly constituencies. It is claimed that they have detailed information about 20 assembly constituencies, where up to 90 percent of the names have disappeared and villages have become empty. Some people associated with Bengal were also included in the conference, who repeatedly raised the question as to why their names were not included in the voter list.
In SIR it seems that the government itself is choosing the voters: Ajit Jha
At the same time, Professor Ajit Jha, present in the conference, also pointed towards the logical discrepancy in the SIR process. He said that in many cases the father’s name is recorded, but the son’s name is missing from the list, which raises questions on the credibility of the entire process. He said that even when SIR was going on in Bihar, it was feared that the real target would be West Bengal. According to him, there is arbitrary power in this process, in which anyone’s name can be added or removed.
Emphasizing the basic principle of democracy, Professor Jha said that in democracy the voters choose the government, but in SIR it seems that the government itself is choosing the voters. He warned that any government runs only on popular public support and people will not allow this process to succeed. Deep concern and dissatisfaction regarding SIR was expressed in this conference.
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