PM Modi to Visit Nadia for Highway Projects, First Bengal Trip After Draft SIR Rolls Release
PM to address SIR concerns in West Bengal's key community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Nadia district in West Bengal on Saturday, marking his first trip to the state since the publication of the draft Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral rolls. During the visit, he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for national highway projects valued at approximately Rs 3,200 crore, while addressing a major public rally in the strategically significant Taherpur area of Ranaghat.
The rally, located near the heartland of the influential Namasudra Hindu community, is expected to directly tackle growing apprehensions among Matua community members following the draft rolls' release. Political analysts note that this event positions Modi to reassure the community, which has faced renewed concerns over documentation and potential disenfranchisement amid the ongoing revision process.
In the draft electoral rolls, over 58 lakh names have been excluded, with 1.36 crore entries flagged for discrepancies and around 30 lakh voters marked as unmapped, prompting verification hearings. For the Matua community—Dalit Hindus who migrated from Bangladesh due to religious persecution—these developments have intensified anxieties regarding identity and citizenship, particularly as many lack the specified documents required for verification.
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The Prime Minister's visit gains added significance as it aligns with preparations for the upcoming assembly elections early next year, where the Matua vote is considered pivotal in influencing outcomes across as many as 80 seats. Modi has already signalled his intent through social media, criticising Trinamool Congress governance and positioning the BJP as the alternative, while highlighting central government initiatives benefiting the state.
Amid opposition from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has led protests against the SIR in Matua-dominated districts, BJP leaders express confidence that Modi's address will counter alleged misinformation. Simultaneously, the infrastructure projects—a four-laning of the Barajaguli-Krishnanagar section on NH-34 and the Barasat-Barajaguli stretch—aim to enhance connectivity between Kolkata and Siliguri, fostering economic growth and development in the region.
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