ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique holds protests against SIR, detained by police in Kolkata

Mr. Jindal
3 Min Read

ISF MLA and leader Nawsad Siddique held protests in Kolkata against SIR, he was later detained by the police.

ISF MLA and leader Nawsad Siddique held protests in Kolkata against SIR, he was later detained by the police.
| Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri

 

Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Nawsad Siddique held a protest march against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Kolkata on Wednesday (August 20, 2025). He and many of the other protesters clashed with the Kolkata Police and were detained by the officers. 

The protesters were also protesting against the harassment of Bengali migrant labourers in Bharatiya Janta Party ruled States across the country. 

Mr. Siddique is the sole MLA from ISF who was leading the protest demonstration in the Esplanade area in central Kolkata and were seen waving the Indian flag raising slogans of justice. 

“In the name of SIR, the way they are harassing citizens and categorising them as ‘doubtful voters’ and listing alive people as ‘dead voters’ needs to stop immediately. They are also harassing minority workers in other States, the poor are coming back after being attacked in other places. We are protesting against such atrocities,” Mr. Siddique said during the protests. 

Mr. Siddique also said that they are not being allowed to protest and show their dissatisfaction about SIR and migrant labourer harassment issue when their own brothers are being targeted. 

A huge contingent of police was present on site as many of the protestors including other ISF workers were detained and taken away from the protest site police vans. Police officials said that the ISF did not have permission to hold their protests in that location and hence the detention. 

Many protesters were seen being dragged on the ground as some tried to block the police vans which detained their fellow protesters. 

The ISF leader Mr. Siddique also said that he was physically assaulted during the scuffle with police. 

The other demands of the protestors were retraction of the Waqf Amendment Act, restoration of the OBC reservation, and cancellation of fake Scheduled Caste and Tribe certificates. 

Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (Central) Indira Mukherjee told reporters, “We had to use minimum force to lift the blockade by the ISF to facilitate movement of traffic in the busy thoroughfare.” 

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