In Kolkata, several civil rights organizations, including the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), staged a massive protest rally on Saturday opposing the Election Commission of India’s plan to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal. The protesters, marching from College Street to Dorina Crossing, alleged that the SIR process is a disguised attempt to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. They claimed that under the SIR, citizens will be forced to prove their identity and family background, which could ultimately lead to disenfranchisement of genuine voters.

APDR General Secretary Ranjit Sur said that as part of the SIR process, every adult above 18 years of age would be required to fill out both an SIR form and a self-declaration form. These forms reportedly demand details such as the applicant’s date and place of birth, as well as that of their parents, along with supporting proof. Sur questioned the need for collecting such personal data, arguing that none of this information appears on the voter ID card itself. He further said that despite regular voter list updates, this sudden revision raises suspicion about the real intention behind the move.

The APDR alleged that the government’s plan mirrors earlier attempts to link personal data with citizenship verification, as seen during the 2019 census initiative. The group warned that shifting the burden of proving citizenship onto individuals is unconstitutional and contrary to Supreme Court rulings. According to the protesters, the Election Commission’s insistence on rejecting Aadhaar and voter ID cards as valid proof could lead to mass exclusion, especially of marginalized groups who may lack extensive documentation. Rights activists vowed to continue their campaign, saying they want an accurate voter list—not one that endangers people’s citizenship.