NRC-SIR Panic in Bengal: True Secrets

Nov 02, 2025 - By Ashutosh Roy Current AffairsPolitics

NRC-SIR Panic in Bengal leading to suicides

Panihati, Birbhum and Cooch Behar have become the headlines due to unfortunate death by suicide. The news remains that three adults have committed suicides in a row as a result of NRC-SIR Panic in Bengal. However, as per the ruling party, anxieties over the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) have triggered of such suicides. The family members of the deceased have also confirmed their anxieties.

It’s still a puzzle, whether they are reiterating the tutored version.

The police suddenly discovered a suicide note in Panihati. It remains uncertain whether the police will seek the opinion of handwriting experts before declaring the few shakily scribbled lines as a suicide note.

Political row erupts when Mamata Banerjee claims the mishaps as “direct consequence of BJP’s venomous propaganda”.

Unnecessary NRC-SIR Panic in Bengal

Brushing asides the political slugfest, let us raise a few simple yet pertinent questions:

• Why NRC-SIR Panic in Bengal has raised acrimonious debates?
• Has The Central Government announced NRC in any state other than Assam?
• Why should we worry about something that has not even been announced yet?
• Why worry about something that hasn’t even happened yet?

It’s perhaps because of uttering meaningless rhetoric by the politicians. The BJP and the TMC are arch rivals. They are making exaggerated claims. As a result, they are creating panic and confusing people. The NRC-SIR Panic in Bengal is meaningless.

Indeed, the reality is that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar has resulted a large number of exclusions. Perhaps that has inspired the BJP West Bengal leaders to announce exciting figures like 1.2 crores, 1 crore etc., without any statistical evidences. And the Election Commission has provided substantial justification for its reasons.

However, citizenship was never a factor for exclusion. Still it erupts NRC-SIR Panic in Bengal.

The blame-shifting game of the roaring  arch-rivalries  and the growing anxieties over SIR can cause another set of political violence in West Bengal

Politics over dead bodies has yielded significant political dividends for Mamata Banerjee, hence her party is now treading the same ground.

Continuous panic

The panic has spread so widely that some domestic maid servants have suddenly disappeared without any prior notice. Therefore, politicians must step up and unravel the truth and explain it clearly to voters.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has clearly stated that names listed in the 2002 electoral rolls will remain untouched by default. So, why should senior citizens feel panic-stricken?

According to reports, Pradeep Kar was 57 years old, Khairul Sheikh was 60, and Kshitij Majumdar was 95. Moreover, the Election Commission has confirmed that even if a name is missing from the list, there are several ways to include.

Finally, there is no question of deportation, because the Election Commission has no constitutional authority to deport anyone.

The BLOs are to visit three times if they can not complete the verification. Even after the publication of draft voter list, there are provisions for inclusion. As stated earlier, the political parties are raising such a hue and cry. Unfortunately, in a state like West Bengal, the political parties are more interested in calculating their political mileages.

Mandatory for a smooth SIR

First, the BJP, which governs at the Centre, must avoid making irresponsible or inflated statements. At the same time, the TMC, which rules the state, should also avoid provoking people or seeking political gain by exploiting deaths.

Moreover, political leaders must stop spreading NRC-SIR panic in Bengal among the public. Meanwhile, the Election Commission should stay alert to these tragic incidents and the unnecessary panic among the masses. Therefore, it must break its silence and repeatedly come to public to reassure the people.

Finally, ordinary citizens should understand this clearly. Such political fence-sitting comes from tough power politics. It does not come from any real concern for public welfare.

However,  West Bengal is witnessing the most brazen display of politics amidst the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).