Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 24 : Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram on Monday targeted the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing it of manufacturing a new class of "non-voting citizens".
His remarks came after former Indian Envoy to the UAE Navdeep Suri questioned if he is facing trouble in establishing his citizenship after representing the nation in three countries during the ongoing SIR in Punjab; then what might be the experience of a common citizen.
Taking to X, Chidambaram claimed that 10% of the adult population will end the exercise holding citizenship without the right to vote.
"Mr Navdeep Suri, former Ambassador of India to Egypt and United Arab Emirates and former High Commissioner to Australia said on the S.I.R. process: "If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in the three countries, what's the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!" Based on the outcomes so far, at the end of the S.I.R. process, 10% of India's adult population will be 'citizens' but without the right to vote, thanks to the ECI That is nearly 10 crore people The ECI has created a new category of ' non-voting citizens," said Chidambaram on X.
Suri said his details failed to match the 2003 electoral rolls used for verification, since he was posted in London at the time and had not participated in that revision.
https://x.com/navdeepsuri/status/2091404867126620424?s=20
"Sharing my experience with #SIR in Punjab. Went to BLO, submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured that everything is in order. Got a message today from a volunteer saying some details don't match with SIR in 2003!!" Suri said on X, adding that officials later asked him to produce his passport as proof.
"Spoke with BLO, was told that I should come and collect the notice. And then come again with unspecified documents that show I am an Indian citizen. Replied that I was not in India in 2003, so they've asked for passport as proof," he said.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer has assured citizens that receiving a notice is not a cause of worry.
"As part of the ongoing SIR process, notices are being delivered to voters where required. Received a notice? Don't worry! Simply check the details, submit the required documents, and complete the process," the Punjab CEO said on X earlier.
Meanwhile, the draft electoral roll for Punjab was published on August 13. The state is currently undergoing the second phase of the SIR, which involves reviewing draft electoral rolls and filing claims and objections.