Kolkata: As the state heads into Assembly election on April 23 and April 29, religious figures and members of civil society in Kolkata have made an appeal to voters across faiths, communities and linguistic identities to vote and resist attempts to divide.The calls for unity and participation have come at a time when the political temperature in the state has been rising. References to religious and lingual identities in political speeches have been hard to miss. In many constituencies, leaders have spoken about language and culture, often framing it as a divide between ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’. There have also been overt references to religion in many campaign speeches.“A certain section might try to vitiate the political atmosphere in the state by dividing people, but we must not walk into that trap,” said Angelina Mantosh Jasnani, president of the Catholic Association of Bengal. The appeal has found resonance across religious institutions. Trustees of Nakhoda Mosque issued a statement urging citizens to exercise their democratic rights. “We have to recognise our strength and express it through our wisdom in ballot boxes for the best candidates who will resolve our grievances,” the appeal stated, calling upon social organisations to ensure maximum participation.Imam Mohammad Shafique Qasmi reinforced the message. “We celebrate our religious festivals with a lot of enthusiasm. Elections are our democratic festival and we must celebrate them with similar commitment,” said Qasmi in a short video on social media. An all-faith prayer meeting near Mother Teresa’s statue outside Allen Park on Tuesday brought together leaders from different religions, emphasising peace, justice and responsible citizenship at a time of global conflict and local anxieties. At the same time, the recent SIR of electoral rolls has emerged as a key concern. Reports of deletions and confusion over voter eligibility have surfaced in many pockets, particularly in constituencies with significant minority populations. “In our housing society, we have been reminding each other about voting on April 29,” said Sutapa Roy, 36, a homemaker from New Town. “Earlier, voting felt routine but this time there’s more discussion, more awareness and some concerns too. I will vote for sure along with my family, as we do not want any issues with our names on the rolls in the future.”It also reflects concern among voters, many of whom are double-checking their names on electoral rolls and encouraging others to do the same. “Voting is not about choosing between communities, but about choosing the future we will all share,” said Harminder Singh, a social worker in Kolkata.
