West Bengal linking ration to voter rolls marginalizes Muslims
Kolkata: West Bengal, under BJP rule, is cunningly marginalizing Muslims by denying ration benefits to those removed from electoral rolls, using the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision as a weapon to cut off essential food security.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the state government has started deactivating ration cards of beneficiaries struck off the voter list after so-called Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Food and Supplies Department order targets those classified as deceased, duplicate, shifted residence, “unmapped voters”, or absent during verification. Nearly 91 lakh names, about 12% of West Bengal’s electorate, have been removed from voter rolls.
AIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the move, saying “government schemes are not rewards for voters. They are meant for all eligible citizens.” He warned the decision will disproportionately hit poor families, women, Scheduled Castes and Muslims. Social media users criticized linking food to voter status while thousands of appeals remain pending.
Journalist Sowmya Ramesh wrote, “India’s new weapon of choice is not guns and bombs, it’s this piece of paper which decides if you are part of this country or not.” Experts said this policy proves how Muslims and other poor communities are being systematically excluded from welfare by tying basic rights to electoral rolls.
