New Delhi [India], July 24 : As the Opposition continued to train guns on the Centre over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list in Bihar, Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Sandosh Kumar said that the exercise "intentionally" attempts to exclude Dalits, Adivasis, and Minorities from the voting list.
Speaking to ANI, Kumar said, "The work done in the name of the Election Commission seems to favour the BJP. How can there be such a major revision in such a short time? Bihar's election isn't sudden... Why is the Election Commission preparing late? In the last 20 years, have all terrorists been on the list? Did Nitish Kumar form the government after getting their votes, and did the BJP gain many votes?"
"This SIR intentionally attempts to exclude Dalits, Adivasis, and Minorities. It is obvious even from the name. It's not just about exclusion, but also about making it easy for inclusion," the CPI MP added.
Meanwhile, Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday warned the Election Commission that the opposition would not let them get away with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar.
"I want to send a message to the Election Commission: If you think you are going to get away with it, if your officers think they are going to get away with it, you are mistaken. You are not going to get away with it, because we are going to come for you," Lok Sabha LoP told reporters outside Parliament, just after the Lok Sabha was adjourned today.
He accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of indulging in "cheating" during the voter list revision process in a Karnataka constituency. Gandhi claimed to have "100 per cent" proof of the alleged manipulation, which involves adding and deleting voters, but hasn't presented any evidence yet.
He alleged that thousands of new voters aged 50, 60, and 65 have been added to the list in a single constituency, and eligible voters above 18 have been removed from the list.
"Today we have 100 per cent proof of Election Commission allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka. When we decide to show it to you, it is 100 per cent proof. We just looked at one constituency and we found this. I am absolutely convinced that constituency after constituency this is the drama. Thousands of new votes, aged 50 or 60, 65 (are there) in one constituency. Then voter deletion, people who are way above 18," he said.
The opposition parties, including Congress and Samajwadi Party, have been protesting against the SIR exercise, alleging that it's an attempt to disenfranchise voters, particularly from marginalised communities. They claim that the process is being used to remove names from the voters' list, which could impact the outcome of upcoming assembly elections.
Reiterating the claim that the poll panel is not fulfilling its duties, the Lok Sabha LoP added, "I have said this yesterday too. This is a very serious matter. Election Commission is not functioning as the Election Commission of India. Today they made some statement, this is complete nonsense. The fact of the matter is that the Election Commission is not doing its job."
Rahul Gandhi, along with other opposition MPs, including Akhilesh Yadav and DMK MP TR Baalu, held protests in the Parliament premises, raising slogans against the Election Commission and the BJP-led NDA government. The MPs held posters that read "SIR is the murder of democracy" and "Justice, Justice, Justice," demonstrating their strong opposition to the SIR exercise.
However, on the other hand, the Election Commission has defended the revision process, stating that it's aimed at ensuring the purity of elections by removing ineligible voters from the rolls. The commission has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, affirming its authority to verify citizenship details in the interest of electoral integrity.