West Bengal’s political temperature is soaring as assembly elections approach, with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls becoming a flashpoint. TMC leaders decry it as opaque and a stealthy NRC imposition, setting the stage for actress Munmun Sen’s explosive intervention. The former MP has publicly questioned the mental acuity of NRC’s proponent, calling it a flawed and insensitive idea.
In a candid Mumbai press briefing, Sen, whose 1984 debut ‘Andar Baahar’ turned heads with its boldness, illustrated her point vividly. ‘Take my driver—his illiterate farmer parents lack all papers, ration card included. Proving sonship to bureaucrats comes first; only then might they review lineage documents.’ She urged the policy’s creator to seek help at NIMHANS: ‘Whoever started NRC is not mentally stable.’
This isn’t mere rhetoric in a vacuum. Bengal’s NRC standoff traces back to Assam’s implementation, stirring local fears. CM Mamata Banerjee has pledged to block both NRC and CAA, framing them as threats to the state’s fabric. Sen’s history ties her closely: TMC recruit in 2014, Bankura victor, 2019 Asansol loser to BJP’s Babul Supriyo. Her tenure sparkled with glamour, controversies, and endorsements like wanting Banerjee as PM. Now politically sidelined, she re-enters the fray with timing that could rally TMC sympathizers.
Experts note how such statements amplify grassroots concerns about documentation burdens on the poor. In a state with millions of daily wage earners and migrants, NRC evokes dread of disenfranchisement. Sen’s narrative humanizes the critique, shifting focus from abstract policy to lived realities. As campaigns rev up, her words could echo in rallies and social media, influencing narratives around citizenship and equity.
Ultimately, Sen’s outburst underscores Bengal’s deepening divide. While it risks backlash from pro-NRC camps, it energizes those wary of central impositions. In the battle for hearts and minds, personal stories like hers might prove decisive.