In a rebuttal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘drama’ jibe towards opposition ahead of Parliament's winter session, Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary on Monday Abhishek Banerjee accused the central government of dodging accountability for a series of public welfare failures, including the deaths of nearly 40 individuals in West Bengal during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Speaking to reporters after launching the 'Sebaashray 2' community health initiative in Maheshtala, Banerjee dismissed Modi's characterisation of opposition demands as mere "drama." The Prime Minister, in a televised address on November 30, had urged lawmakers to prioritise substantive policy discussions over theatrical disruptions, subtly referencing the opposition's recent setbacks in Bihar's assembly polls. "Parliament is a forum for delivery, not drama,” Modi stated, adding that he was willing to share "tips for positive politics" with rattled rivals.
Banerjee, the Diamond harbour MP, refused to let the remark slide. "We're not staging a show - we're seeking a serious debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists," he declared. “ The SIR was hastily implemented without consulting the state governments or the sake holders. 40 people have died in Bengal. There are people who have died elsewhere - even in BJP ruled states. Is the PM calling these deaths a drama? Where is the accountability? People have no problem in standing in queues and fill in forms. People stood in the queue when demonetisation happened, hoping that the black money will come back. 10 years later the volume of black money has further increased. But where is the accountability”, he asked.
The SIR, an Election Commission of India (ECI)-mandated exercise to purge outdated entries and verify voter details, has sparked widespread controversy in West Bengal. TMC leaders claim it was hastily implemented without adequate safeguards, leading to chaotic door-to-door verifications that overburdened Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and left vulnerable citizens - many elderly or from marginalised communities - stranded in uncertainty. “We are not against SIR, but the ECI should have taken 6 months. You have not given BLOs proper training. They have not been given proper support. How will they work without proper support and training. TMC isn’t looking up stories. The BLO from Nadia died by suicide and she clearly mentioned EC and SIR responsible in her note. Is the PM calling such deaths - a drama?”
At least 40 deaths have been linked to the process since it kicked off in mid-October, according to state government data, with BLOs bearing the brunt due to exhaustive fieldwork without proper training or logistical support. "These weren't accidents; they were preventable," Banerjee emphasised. "The ECI didn't equip BLOs with the tools they needed- no glitch fixes in the portal, no updated rolls, no respite. And now, when families grieve, the Centre points fingers at the poll body instead of owning up."
Banerjee's retort extended beyond the SIR fiasco, weaving in a broader tapestry of perceived governance lapses under the BJP-led coalition. He evoked the 2016 demonetisation drive, a signature Modi policy that forced millions into serpentine bank queues and promised to eradicate black money but, critics argue, only amplified economic distress. "Ten years on, black money flow freer than ever. Where's the reckoning?" he asked rhetorically. Turning to national security, he highlighted recent terror incidents, including a blast in Pahalgam, Kashmir, questioning why "terrorists slip through borders" without repercussions for those in charge.
“Terrorists are coming from Pakistan, where is the accountability? Blasts happening in national Capital, where is the accountability? So many people have died because of unplanned SIR, where is the accountability? They want to enjoy power without being answerable to people - this is a deadly lethal combination, he added.
With the winter session of Parliament convening today, opposition alliance INDIA bloc - comprising TMC, Congress, and regional players - have vowed to stall proceedings until the government addresses pressing issues, from unemployment spikes to federal fund delays. Banerjee didn't mince words on the latter: "They've withheld over ₹2 lakh crore owed to Bengal for development schemes. Winning Bihar doesn't grant a free pass - it's the people who'll decide your fate at the ballot box."
