Four brothers from Kolkata, including two doctors serving the West Bengal state health department and a former Indian Army medical officer, have been issued notices to appear for a citizenship verification hearing. All four have confirmed they will attend the hearing scheduled for Tuesday, but they have strongly criticized the process as an act of harassment that forces them to miss a crucial day of work.
Doctors Disrupted: A Day's Work Lost
Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) for Bankura, Sajal Biswas, was engrossed in his duties when he received the call on Monday, directing him to appear for the hearing the very next day. Having voted consistently in every major election for over three and a half decades, Biswas found the notice completely unexpected.
"This autocratic and fascist attitude will cost me a full day's work," Biswas told TOI. He explained that he must travel from his posting in Bankura to the hearing center in Agarpara, near his family home. While he followed protocol by seeking official leave from Swasthya Bhawan for the hearing, he claims the necessary permission was not granted. "I will attend because I do not wish to lose my citizenship," he stated firmly.
An Army Veteran's Shock and Hurt
Among his brothers is Tapan Biswas, who, like Sajal, is an alumnus of Medical College, Kolkata. Tapan pursued a post-graduation diploma from IPGMER (SSKM) before joining the Indian Army as a doctor. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2021 and currently works as a critical care specialist at a multispecialty hospital in Kolkata.
"I am hurt and shocked that I have to prove my nationality after serving the nation in the Army," expressed Tapan Biswas. He emphasized his commitment to voting, having exercised his franchise whenever possible, barring a seven-year posting in Jammu and Kashmir. His most recent vote was cast in the last parliamentary elections.
A Family Under Scrutiny and Allegations of a "Farce"
All four brothers share the same residential address in Agarpara and are set to appear for the hearing at Sabitri Mahajati Balika Vidyapith. Another brother, Swapan Biswas, a medical officer at Bhatpara State General Hospital who has served the state government since 2004, launched a sharp critique of the entire process.
He compared the Supplementary Identification Review (SIR) exercise to demonetization, or 'notebandi'. "This SIR exercise is a farce like the notebandi. Did that initiative, which caused immense public harassment, actually stop black money?" he questioned rhetorically.
The fourth brother, Rajat Biswas, an employee of a nationalized bank, has also received a summons for the same Tuesday hearing, putting the entire family under official scrutiny.
