Rahul’s claims show SIR needed to correct voters’ list: Assam CM
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that his recent remarks on voter roll irregularities indirectly support the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Assam to remove “Bangladeshis” from electoral rolls. The SIR exercise is aimed at ensuring a free and fair election by identifying and correcting irregularities in the electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi, during a recent visit to Assam, had alleged a “huge criminal fraud” in the state’s polls. However, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma took a strong exception to Rahul’s statement, saying that it only goes to show that the SIR exercise is necessary to correct the voter rolls.
Sarma’s statement came in response to Rahul’s claims that the voter rolls in Assam are loaded with fake names, including those of “Bangladeshis”. The Congress leader had also alleged that the SIR exercise was a ploy to disenfranchise a particular community.
Sarma, however, took a diametrically opposite view, saying that Rahul’s claims only strengthen the case for the SIR exercise. “After a long time, Rahul has indirectly supported the Election Commission,” Sarma said. “His claim establishes that SIR is needed.”
The SIR exercise was initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in 2021 to ensure a clean and transparent electoral process. The exercise aimed to identify and correct irregularities in the electoral rolls, including duplicate entries, dead persons, and foreigners who had managed to get enrolled as voters.
Assam has been a hotbed of political controversy over the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh. The SIR exercise has been seen as a crucial step to identify and remove such individuals from the electoral rolls.
Sarma’s statement has sparked a heated debate in the state, with many political leaders and experts weighing in on the issue. While some have supported Sarma’s view, others have criticized him for playing politics over a sensitive issue.
The SIR exercise has been completed in phases, with the ECI releasing the preliminary report last year. The report had identified around 1.4 million irregularities in the electoral rolls, including around 1.3 million duplicate entries.
The exercise has been controversial, with many opposition leaders and activists accusing the BJP-led government of using it to target a particular community and deny them the right to vote.
Rahul Gandhi’s statement came amidst a backdrop of intense political polarization in Assam, with tensions running high between the ruling BJP and the opposition parties. The Congress leader’s visit to Assam was seen as an attempt to mobilize support among the minority communities in the state.
The SIR exercise has been hailed as a crucial step towards ensuring a free and fair election in Assam. However, the controversy surrounding it has also raised concerns about the impact it may have on the rights of certain communities.
In the midst of this controversy, the Election Commission has maintained that the SIR exercise is an essential step towards ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. The ECI has also assured that the exercise will be conducted in a transparent and fair manner, with adequate safeguards to protect the rights of all voters.
As the political debate continues to rage in Assam, it remains to be seen how the SIR exercise will ultimately impact the electoral rolls in the state. One thing is clear, however – the controversy surrounding the exercise has only added to the intense political polarization in Assam, making it even more challenging to ensure a free and fair election in the state.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/fda41a48-9fd7-4fdc-84ff-4adf84fa158d
