Row intensifies over death of person over NRC fears in WB, Trinamool announces protest

The row over the death of a 57-year-old person who died allegedly due to fears of National Register of Citizens (NRC) intensified on Wednesday with Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee visiting the residence of the deceased.

While Mr. Banerjee tried to allay fears about NRC and SIR, he blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the death and announced protests in Panihati, a neighbourhood in North 24 Parganas where the death was reported.

“Entire Bengal is now saying one thing: Justice for Pradeep Kar. And those who are responsible for his death, Trinamool will send them to jail, no matter how much we have to fight,” the Trinamool Congress leader said.

Mr. Banerjee targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and asked whether the names of everyone's parents and grandparents were in voter lists

“Is Gyanesh Kumar’s father’s name in the voter list? Can you show us the document? Can you show Amit Shah’s birth certificate? Starting from the PM to every cabinet minister, can you show us your fathers’ and grandfathers’ certificates? Those who work for the ECI? Or BJP supporters and workers?” the Trinamool leader said.

Mr. Banerjee told the people that if “you see them (BJP leaders) come here, tie them up and tell them they will be let go once they produce their fathers’ and grandfathers’ certificates”.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had raised the issue of death of the Panihati resident on social media and claimed that the deceased had stated that “NRC is responsible for my death”. The party chairperson said that the death was a “direct consequence of BJP’s venomous propaganda”.

The party chairperson and party’s general secretary have highlighted the death when the Election of India (ECI) has announced SIR in 12 states including West Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress also raised the issue of a 63-year-old man in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar attempted suicide fearing harassment under the SIR of electoral rolls, and accused the BJP and the Election Commission (EC) of triggering panic across the state.

Name of deceased in 2002 voter list claims BJP

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in West Bengal said that the name of deceased Pradeep Kar is in 2002 voter list that is considered the basis of ongoing SIR.

“Look at the Panihati assembly election list of 2002! Pradeep Kar’s name is shining at number 16. The responsibility for Pradeep Kar’s death lies entirely with Trinamool and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said.

The BJP leader said that Trinamool Congress has scared and misled people in various ways on several occasions and even after knowing that SIR and NRC are completely different.

“There is no forgiveness for this injustice. Do not fall for Trinamool’s false incitement. Not a single legal citizen’s name will be left out,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.