Kolkata Fire Sparks Political Row as BJP Links New Town Blaze to SIR Process

A massive fire that gutted over 100 shanties in the Ghuni slum area of New Town, Kolkata, has sparked a sharp political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The blaze broke out near the Eco Park area on Thursday morning, prompting the deployment of multiple fire tenders to bring the flames under control. While no casualties were reported, the incident caused extensive damage, leaving dozens of families homeless.

As firefighting operations continued, the BJP alleged that the fire was not merely an administrative failure but was linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Party leaders claimed that several occupants of the shanties — whom they described as “illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators” — had allegedly locked their homes and fled across the border days before the fire.

The BJP termed the incident a “deliberate manipulation” and accused the state government of ignoring serious security and demographic concerns in the New Town area. According to the party, the timing of the fire raises questions about whether evidence related to alleged illegal settlements was destroyed.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, however, has rejected these allegations, maintaining that the fire was accidental and that emergency services responded promptly to prevent loss of life. State officials said an investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the blaze.

The Ghuni slum, located close to Kolkata’s rapidly developing New Town township, has long been at the centre of political debates over urban migration, housing, and citizenship verification.

Authorities continue to assess the damage as displaced residents seek temporary shelter, even as the incident intensifies the political war of words in West Bengal.