Kolkata/Keshiyari: Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission’s SIR was a “big scam” aimed at “bringing the BJP to power” in Bengal, as she warned of retaliation against those who invoked the SIR. “The names of voters are being removed indiscriminately. Remember, out of the 90 lakh voters removed, 60 lakh are Hindus and 30 lakh are Muslims. It will be proved one day that SIR was a huge scam. Those who are trying to please their masters by torturing and harassing people will get justice,” he said at a rally in Keshiari in West Midnapore. “More than 250 people have died due to the SIR exercise… Since we speak Bengali, are we not Indians? Do we need to constantly prove our citizenship?” he asked. He raised the issue of alleged targeting of Lodha and Sabar communities during SIR. He accused BJP of planning to tamper with EVMs and spread fear. She said, “It is being said that people whose names have been removed from the Bihar list will not get ration… their bank accounts will be frozen. I will not allow anything like this in Bengal.” – Dwaipayan Ghosh and Sujoy Khanra