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

The controversy over the death of a 57-year-old man, who allegedly died due to National Register of Citizens (NRC) scare, intensified on Wednesday when Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee visited the house of the deceased.

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

“The whole of Bengal is saying one thing now: Justice for Pradeep Kar. And those responsible for his death, Trinamool will send them to jail, no matter how hard 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 the 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? Can you show us the certificates of your fathers and grandfathers to all the cabinet ministers, starting from the Prime Minister? Those who work for the ECI? Or the BJP supporters and workers?” said the Trinamool leader.

“If you see them (BJP leaders) coming here, tie them up and tell them that they will be released after showing their fathers’ and grandfathers’ certificates,” Mr. Banerjee told the people.

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

The party president and the party’s general secretary highlighted the death when Election India (ECI) 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 attempting suicide for fear of being harassed under the SIR of voter rolls, and accused the BJP and the Election Commission (EC) of causing panic across the state.

Name of deceased in 2002 voter list claims BJP

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in West Bengal said late Pradeep Kar’s name was included in the 2002 voter list, which was considered as the basis for the ongoing SIR.

“Look at the 2002 election list of Panihati assembly! Pradeep Kar’s name shines in the 16th position. Responsibility for Pradeep Kar’s death lies entirely with Trinamool and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” said state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya.

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

“This injustice cannot be forgiven. Do not fall for Trinamool’s fake agitations. Not even the name of a single legal citizen will be left out,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.