The special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls began on Tuesday in nine states -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Goa -- and three UTs -- Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

The development triggered a massive footmarch by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who hit out at the Centre over its latest concern – infiltration. She said speaking Bengali “does not make anyone a Bangladeshi, just as speaking Hindi or Punjabi does not make one a Pakistani”.

Addressing a gathering after leading the footmarch in Kolkata, she said, “Many unorganised sector workers are worried that their names will be removed from the voter lists. Whoever speaks Bangla is branded as Bangladeshi. These people have not fought

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