Abhishek Banerjee claims Amartya Sen get SIR hearing notice; Slams "BJP-EC nexus"

Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) for allegedly sending hearing notices to several high-profile personalities under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. During a political rally on Tuesday, Banerjee claimed that Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen is the latest addition to the list of luminaries being "harassed" by the poll body. He described the move as a direct attempt to discredit individuals who have brought global recognition to the country.

Abhishek highlighted that the notices are not just limited to the economist. He pointed out that Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, who represented India in the World Cup, and popular actor-politician Dev (Deepak Adhikari) have also been summoned. "This is so sad," Banerjee said, questioning how an icon like Amartya Sen, who is the pride of the nation, could be called for an SIR hearing. He alleged that the "BJP-ECI nexus" is systematically targeting the people of Bengal through these procedural notices.

Adding to the controversy, it has been confirmed that TMC MP Dev and three members of his family have indeed received notices to appear for an SIR hearing. Dev, the MP from Ghatal, is currently a permanent resident of South Kolkata, though he spent a significant part of his life in Mumbai. While the specific reasons for these summons remain unclear, sources indicate that the individuals are required to present themselves at designated hearing centers with necessary documentation to verify their electoral status.