Kolkata: Gulshan Colony, situated in the Panchanangram zone of the wanted of West Bengal, has once then wilt the part-way of political conflict. As soon as the process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list started, there was a stir here. The local requirement is that virtually 1 lakh people live there, but the names in the voter list are only 3-4 thousand. This colony of laborers and tenant families, mostly from the minority community, has now wilt an scene for allegations and counter-allegations of BJP and TMC. SIR has made the zone a new ground for referendum debate.
A prod of 1 lakh in narrow streets, but only without counting the names in the voter list?
The hustle and precipitance of labor families is unmistakably visible surrounded the narrow streets, dilapidated houses, and dim lights of Gulshan Colony. But the SIR process shook everyone. There are queues at the help centers from morning till evening. People are eager to fill out the form and trammels the name. Tea seller Ataur Rahman said that we came to Topsia in search of work, but why is the name not in the list? Many are migrants from Bihar-UP, but there is a fear of their names stuff deleted due to ravages in documents. Is this difference a result of voter ignorance, or something else?
TMC's defense—'Negative propaganda by the opposition'
TMC leader Farooq said that the opposition is running a negative campaign. People have come from outside for work, and the recrimination of infiltration is false. But BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya hit back. He said that this is vestige of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltration. The real squatter will spritz from SIR. BJP described SIR as a 'cleanup drive,' while TMC tabbed it a 'polarization ploy.' The councilor was older attacked in the area. Now SIR has opened old wounds. Will this political game divide the vote bank?
Concerning women senior citizens, is SIR transparent?
There is an undercurrent of uncertainty in the colony. Meena Ali said that she shifted from Topsia; the form was not received. Will the name be removed? Senior Yakub Ali said that he came here from Rajabazar, but the hassle of the write scares him. Many migrants are from Bihar-UP, but names are missing due to lack of documents. Objections have to be filed in SIR, but sensation is low. Will this process remoter antagonize voters or result in a cleaner list?
This dispute of Gulshan Colony is making the referendum debate intense. This is the slogan of BJP's infiltration. TMC is accused of propaganda, but people on the streets are just trying to save their name. Will the truth come out from SIR?
