New Delhi, Dec 17 (NationPress) A new political clash has emerged in West Bengal regarding the SIR process after Governor C.V. Ananda Bose announced that Bangladeshi infiltrators are returning to their homeland.

The BJP claims that this process has revealed extensive infiltration and has accused the government led by Mamata Banerjee of protecting these illegal immigrants.

The party's spokesperson, Pratul Shah Deo, stated, “It is evident that since the SIR began, illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators are making their way back to Bangladesh. This is the type of deterrence that is essential. It is regrettable that the highest discrepancies under SIR were identified in Mamata Banerjee’s constituency, where the largest number of individuals were removed. This clearly suggests that the government in West Bengal has attempted to, in effect, offer state support to infiltrators.”

The BJP's statements followed Governor C.V. Ananda Bose's remarks on Wednesday, indicating that the SIR process is effectively identifying and expelling Bangladeshi infiltrators from the state. In an interview with IANS, the Governor noted that the review process has already initiated an outflow of illegal immigrants, which is expected to significantly impact the electoral landscape.

“Infiltration is a reality that came to light with the commencement of the SIR process. There is also a notable outflow of illegal migrants from Bengal back to Bangladesh. This phenomenon has been thoroughly studied,” Bose explained.

He further mentioned that the SIR would influence the Assembly elections and “purify” the system. “Regarding its electoral impact, the SIR process will undoubtedly bring about change. It will significantly cleanse the system,” he added in his conversation with IANS.

When questioned about the Centre’s claim that SIR would help mitigate the influence of illegal immigrants on elections, the Governor acknowledged that while the issue would lessen, it may not be “completely resolved.”

In response, the Trinamool Congress has countered the BJP’s narrative.

On the SIR, Trinamool MP Sushmita Dev remarked, “There are 58 lakh names in the draft list, and those whose names are absent have the right to file claims and objections. We have consistently stated that if someone has passed away or is an illegal infiltrator, they should be removed. However, as Mamata Banerjee has explicitly stated, we will not permit the removal of any genuine citizen or voter’s name under any circumstances…”

As SIR becomes a focal point in the political arena leading up to elections, the matters of infiltration and voter verification are poised to dominate West Bengal’s political conversations in the months ahead.