Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: On the third day of the monsoon session of the Jharkhand Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radhakrishna Kishore tabled a proposal against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. He argued that the Election Commission’s SIR in Bihar imposed conditions that could disenfranchise the poor, marginalized, and deprived communities. He added that such measures weaken India’s democratic framework and questioned why SIR was needed before Bihar elections but not in places like Varanasi.
Opposition’s Concerns Over Voter Rights
Kishore stressed that the timing and intent of the SIR were questionable, hinting at attempts to manipulate electoral rolls before elections. Party members voiced fears that SIR could deprive millions of genuine voters of their constitutional rights, undermining trust in the democratic process. They also criticized the perceived selective approach of the Election Commission.
Babulal Marandi Counters Allegations
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi strongly opposed the proposal, asking why Congress was against ensuring fair voter registration. He maintained that SIR was crucial in Jharkhand due to changing demographics. Marandi accused the ruling coalition of attempting to protect illegal voters, including Rohingya and Bangladeshis, by resisting the SIR process. He added that if the BJP truly engaged in “vote theft,” the current ruling alliance would not have come to power.
