New Delhi [India], July 14 : BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Monday backed the Election Commission of India on special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, saying it is the responsibility of the poll body to remove any "Bangladeshi or Pakistani" from the voter list.
Speaking with ANI, Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "If there is any Bangladeshi or someone from Myanmar or Pakistan or any other country in Bihar's voter list. it is the responsibility of the Election Commission. The Commission is removing such voters. I believe this process is constitutional."
He also criticised the INDIA bloc for their opposition to the SIR of electoral rolls, questioning if "they are worried because their votes will be cut? It would be better if they answered these questions."
"Nowadays, political parties are strongly opposing it. Should I assume that the voters of our Bihar political parties are only from Bangladesh and Myanmar, and they are worried because their votes will be cut? It would be better if they answered these questions, " he said.
Earlier in the day, Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav, criticised the Election Commission of India, calling it "Dhritrashtra" over their decision to revise electoral rolls in Bihar, and accused them of "not respecting" the Constitution or following Supreme Court advice.
Speaking with ANI, Pappu Yadav said, "The Election Commission has already become 'Dhritarashtra'. They are neither following the Supreme Court's advice nor respecting the Constitution. The Supreme Court advised them and clearly stated that under no circumstances can you decide who is Indian and who is not. Work under the Constitution and include Aadhaar card along with other documents."
Meanwhile, Supreme Court has allowed EC to continue Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls while advising them to consider allowing Aadhaar, ration cards, and electoral photo identity cards as admissible documents to prove voter identity.
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi stated in its order, "We are of the prima facie opinion that in the interest of justice, the Election Commission will also include documents like Aadhaar, Ration Card, Voter ID card, etc. It is for the ECI to decide whether it wants to accept the documents or not, and if it does not, then provide reasons for its decision, which shall be sufficient to satisfy the petitioners. Meanwhile, petitioners are not pressing for an interim stay."
The Election Commission of India (ECI) said that till Saturday evening, 80.11 per cent of electors in Bihar submitted their forms, adding that the commission is moving ahead to complete the collection of Enumeration Forms (EFs) before the stipulated time of July 25.