New Delhi [India], July 24 : Amid Opposition's continuous protest over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday slammed Election Commission of India, saying that it is no longer the ECI but has become the party office of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking to ANI, Randhawa asserted that the SIR is a very serious issue.
"It is a very serious issue. Election Commission is working only to form the BJP government. It is no longer the Election Commission, but it has become the BJP's party office," the Congress MP said.
The opposition parties have repeatedly called for a discussion in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha regarding the ongoing revision exercise in Bihar, moving adjournment motions every day since the start of the monsoon session of Parliament, and alleging that voter roll manipulation is taking place under the guise of the SIR in Bihar.
The INDIA bloc MPs, for the fourth consecutive day, protested against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being conducted by the Election Commission (EC) in poll-bound Bihar. The MPs gathered at Parliament Makar Dwar and called for a stop to the exercise.
Meanwhile, in Bihar, Opposition leaders held a protest on Thursday in front of the Bihar Assembly over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of the state elections, scheduled for later this year.
The Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year, in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date.
Earlier today, the Election Commission of India (ECI) defended the ongoing SIR in poll-bound Bihar, urging opposition parties to think deeply, "going beyond political ideologies."
In a statement, the ECI questioned its critics and asked if it should allow fake votes to be cast in the names of deceased and migrated voters.
"The Constitution of India is the mother of Indian democracy. So, fearing these things, should the Election Commission, getting misled by some people, pave the way for some to cast fake votes in the name of deceased voters, voters who have migrated permanently, voters who have got their votes registered at two places, fake voters or foreign voters, going against the Constitution, first in Bihar, then in the entire country?" it said.
Furthermore, the ECI inquired whether preparing an authentic voter list is a foundation for fair elections in the country.
"Isn't the authentic voter list being prepared by the Election Commission through a transparent process, the foundation stone for fair elections and a strong democracy?" the statement by ECI said.
The Election Commission urged citizens to consider these questions while setting aside their political ideologies.