New Delhi, November 21: Some political parties are on a mission to shield the infiltrators by opposing the voter verification drive being undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI), said Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday. The searing swipe by the Home Minister comes on the back of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's urgent appeal to the poll panel to stop the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) -- currently underway in 12 states, including three union territories. Addressing an event in Gujarat, HM Amit Shah said that stopping infiltration in the country was not just necessary but also the need of the hour because of the threat it poses to the country’s demography and democracy.

"Preventing infiltration is not only necessary for the security of the country, but also essential to protect our democratic system from being corrupted. Unfortunately, some political parties are opposing the 'ghuspaithiya hatao' campaign and the voter list purification drive being carried out by the Election Commission under SIR,” he stated. Reiterating the pledge to oust infiltrators and outsiders, he said that every single infiltrator will be identified and thrown out of the country. “It’s the people of this country and not the infiltrators who will elect their representatives," he added. Election Commission Begins Preparations for 2026 West Bengal Assembly Polls Amid Ongoing SIR; Introduces New EVM Rules, Voting Rehearsal Exercise.

The Home Minister’s remarks come just a day after Mamata Banerjee dashed off a letter to the Election Commission, demanding a stay on the ongoing SIR exercise on the grounds of 'alienating the common public and snatching their right to vote'. “I would request you to kindly intervene decisively to halt the ongoing exercise, stop coercive measures, provide proper training and support, and thoroughly reassess the present methodology and timelines,” Mamata Banerjee wrote in a letter to CEC Gyanesh Kumar. ‘Unplanned, Chaotic and Dangerous’: CM Mamata Banerjee Writes to Election Commission, Seeks Immediate Intervention Over Ongoing SIR In West Bengal.

She also claimed that many BLOs (Booth Level Officers) were under extreme pressure and fear of punitive action and were resorting to “submission of incorrect or incomplete entries, thus risking disenfranchisement of genuine voters and eroding the integrity of the electoral roll”. Her letter drew backlash from the BJP, including the state unit, which not just dismissed her charges but also accused her of trying to derail a lawful process.

 

TruLY Score by LatestLY
Rating:4

TruLY Score 4 – Reliable | On a Trust Scale of 0-5 this article has scored 4 on LatestLY. The information comes from reputable news agencies like (IANS). While not an official source, it meets professional journalism standards and can be confidently shared with your friends and family, though some updates may follow.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 21, 2025 03:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).