West Bengal’s political landscape has been reignited by a fiery confrontation over citizenship fears after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee urged supporters to “confront and tie up” local BJP leaders who seek documents like parents’ birth certificates.
Banerjee’s provocative remarks came after he visited the family of a 57-year-old man in Panihati near Kolkata who allegedly died by suicide, leaving behind notes referencing the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Linking Suicide to NRC and SIR Anxiety
The TMC leader directly linked the man’s tragic death to the anxiety generated by the announcement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the Election Commission of India (ECI) recently began across 12 states, including poll-bound Bengal.
Abhishek Banerjee accused the Centre’s ruling BJP and the ECI of creating a “climate of panic” that drove the man to take the extreme step. He specifically called out Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, questioning whether they themselves could furnish the legacy documents they “have sought from ordinary citizens.” Banerjee demanded criminal action against the two men for the created panic.
The BJP has countered the political accusation, stating that the actual cause of death should be determined by investigators, not political rhetoric. The police’s official version of the events was not immediately available.
The “Tie Them Up” Directives
Addressing his supporters, Banerjee escalated the confrontation with the opposition party, urging a non-violent yet strong resistance against the demand for documents.
“Next time local BJP leaders come to your area, stop them and ask them to furnish their parents’ certificates! Tie them to a tree or lamp post and tell them they won’t be released until they produce their parents’ and grandparents’ documents,” he declared. “We do not believe in violence. Don’t hit them, just tie them up if they ask for your parents’ birth certificates.”
SIR vs. NRC: The Underlying Citizenship Debate
The SIR process, meant for routine electoral roll updates, is widely viewed by opposition parties, particularly the TMC, as “NRC by another name.” They argue that the stringent documentation requirements are a backdoor attempt to implement the NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The TMC has consistently argued that the CAA and a potential NRC, which use religion as a factor for granting citizenship status, disproportionately affect the poor and dispossessed, who are most vulnerable to being unable to produce decades-old documents.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also joined the attack, accusing the BJP of spreading fear and “weaponising NRC.” In response, the BJP maintains that SIR is a routine exercise and has accused the TMC of exploiting a tragedy for political gain. This series of events has dramatically reignited Bengal’s fierce citizenship debate in the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections.