BJP chief claims 'over 50 lakh infiltrators' removed from Bengal electoral rolls

BJP chief claims over 50 lakh infiltrators removed from Bengal voter rolls, alleging misuse of government benefits intended for citizens.

A day after the publication of West Bengal’s post-SIR electoral rolls that saw 63.66 lakh names deleted, BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday claimed that “more than 50 lakh infiltrators” had been removed from the voter list and said "time is up for illegal immigrants" in the State.

Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar while flagging off the party’s 'Poriborton Yatra', Mr. Nabin alleged that those removed from the electoral rolls were “infiltrators”, who had been availing government jobs and benefits of welfare schemes meant for genuine citizens.

“More than 50 lakh infiltrators have been removed from the voter list. These infiltrators were not only violating the rights of legitimate citizens but also jeopardising the security of the country,” he said.

The BJP chief alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had provided "protection to infiltrators by helping them obtain fake documents".

“Mamata Banerjee rushed to the courts to protect infiltrators in the voter rolls, as they are her party’s vote bank. But when women face humiliation, you choose to look the other way,” Mr. Nabin said, in a sharp attack on the TMC leadership.

He also said, “Our message to the infiltrators is that the time has now come to drive them out from the soil of Bengal. We must not only drive out infiltrators but also establish a decisive government that can usher in development." Alleging “misrule” by the TMC, Mr. Nabin said the State needs to be “freed from the corrupt TMC government, which works only for infiltrators. “Bengal is yearning for a change. People want a real ‘Poriborton'," he said.