EC begins massive Special Intensive Revision drive in Bihar
Notwithstanding the mounting criticism from the Opposition that the Government was trying to enforce the NRC through backdoors, the EC clarified the drive, also called Special Intensive Revision (SIR), has begun as mandated by the Constitution under Article 326.
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Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Coming polls will shape Bihar future, says Chirag Paswan at rally
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries and LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan on Sunday said that the 2025 Bihar elections will decide 'our political future for coming five years'. He was addressing a gathering at a rally titled 'Bahujan Bhim Sankalp Samagam' at Rajgir in CM Nitish Kumar's home district Nalanda on Sunday. Chirag also reiterated his desire to contest the Assembly elections. 'Many people are jittery that I want to come to Bihar. They are trying to know whether I will be contesting elections here. I wish to tell them, I want to contest Assembly polls for the sake of Bihar. So that my dream of 'Bihar First, Bihari First' is realised,' he said while assuring the gathering that no one could dare to do away with reservation until he was there. Chirag hit out at Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, asking him to apologise for the Emergency. He questioned RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav how he could side with the perpetrators of Emergency during which his father Lalu Prasad was ill-treated. This was Chirag's second big rally in the state after the one held in Arrah on June 8 in the election year. Chirag hailed the turnout, saying: 'The kind of enthusiasm and support you have shown makes it clear that we are going to realise our goals of 'Bihar First, Bihari First'. Upcoming Assembly polls are very important for us as it will decide our future for the coming five years.' He refrained from speaking on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar or his government. Chirag remembered Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar for his contribution and hit out at the Congress for muzzling the Constitution. 'I am amused to see Rahul Gandhi displaying the Constitution. A leader whose party had imposed Emergency by tampering with the basic structure of the Constitution is talking about the Constitution now. He should rather apologise for Emergency. I also want to tell Tejashwi Yadav to seek an apology from Rahul Gandhi for the ill-treatment meted out to his father Lalu Prasad,' Chirag said.
Hindustan Times
22 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Opposition may raise revision of electoral rolls in Parliament
Opposition INDIA bloc partners may raise the Election Commission of India's (ECI) move to conduct a door-to-door special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, just months before the crucial assembly polls, in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, two senior leaders of the Opposition grouping said on Sunday. Two days after the ECI's announcement to start the SIR of electoral rolls, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the move was more dangerous than the National Register of Citizens (NRC).(File Photo) A senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader said the issue will be also taken up politically by the INDIA bloc parties. 'The talks among INDIA bloc allies have already started on this issue,' the leader said. Also read: EC 'clarifies' rules as Bihar voter roll drive starts today In Patna, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said all constituents of INDIA bloc may knock the door of judiciary against the ongoing SIR if the poll body does not accept opposition parties' objections about the drive. 'The SIR drive of the EC is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise poor, tribal, young, flood-affected, and migrant voters in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. All constituents of INDIA bloc may knock the door of judiciary against the ongoing SIR of the electoral roll in Bihar if the EC does not accept the opposition's objections about the drive,' the Rajya Sabha member said. ECI on June 24 announced it will undertake SIR of the electoral roll across the country, beginning with Bihar, to weed out ineligible names, citing rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, young citizens becoming eligible to vote, non-reporting of deaths and inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants. The announcement met with strong criticism from Bihar's opposition Mahagathbandhan, which claimed the move was aimed at electorally benefiting the ruling NDA in the poll-bound state. Singh said he spoke to RJD chief Lalu Prasad on the issue and urged him to speak to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The SIR drive has been launched just a few months before the state polls, Singh said, adding, 'The EC should have taken the opinion of all political parties before launching this drive.' Two days after the ECI's announcement to start the SIR of electoral rolls, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the move was more dangerous than the National Register of Citizens (NRC). 'I don't understand the reason behind the ECI move or the rationale behind selecting these dates. This is nothing short of a scam. I seek clarification from the commission on whether they are trying to implement the NRC through the back door. In fact, this looks to be more dangerous than the NRC which every political party in Opposition must resist,' Banerjee, who is also the TMC chief, said. A leader of a non-Congress party said the ongoing drive might impact other states as well. 'Next year, three states which are ruled by INDIA bloc parties will go to poll. Therefore, we need to be united to tackle the issue,' the leader said, also declining to be named. In 2026, TMC-ruled West Bengal, DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu and the Left parties-led Kerala will go to polls along with Assam and Puducherry.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Indian Youth Congress lodges complaint against RSS leader Hosabale's Preamble remarks
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 29 (ANI): The Karnataka Unit of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) Legal Cell on Sunday lodged a formal complaint against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale for calling for a reconsideration of the inclusion of the terms 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. The complaint was lodged at the Sheshadripuram Police Station by Legal Cell Chairman Sridhar, Co-Chairman Samrudh Hegde, and other office-bearers and advocates. The complaint specifically refers to Hosabale's remarks on June 26 during a public gathering commemorating the Emergency, where he called for the reconsideration and removal of the words from the Preamble. Sridhar, in a letter attached along with the complaint, stated, 'On 26th June 2025, while addressing a public gathering commemorating the Emergency, Mr. Hosabale openly stated that the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble to the Constitution should be reconsidered and removed. These remarks, made at a politically sensitive event by a high-ranking ideologue of an organisation, are not just ideational commentary.' 'Such attempts to publicly erode constitutional values must be treated with utmost seriousness and urgency. A clear message must be sent that no one is above the Constitution, and any public advocacy of unconstitutional means or dismantling of constitutional principles will face due process of law,' it added. Earlier today, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar wrote a letter to RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, urging him to recognise the critical role of secularism and socialism as foundational values of the Indian Constitution after Hosabale's call. In his letter, Kumar criticised recent statements made by a senior RSS functionary, questioning these principles and arguing that they are essential to India's pluralistic and just society. He also urged the RSS to formally accept the Constitution and cease actions that undermine its spirit. 'These principles are not arbitrary insertions but foundational ideals that emerged from the lived experiences of India's oppressed and the visionary imagination of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and many others who sought to create a just, pluralistic Republic. In a diverse country like ours, secularism ensures unity in diversity, while socialism promises justice and dignity to each of our citizens. To ridicule or reject these values is to negate the promise made to the people of India at the moment of our nation's liberation from colonial rule,' Kumar wrote. On June 26, RSS general secretary Hosabale suggested reconsidering the inclusion of the terms 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Hosabale was addressing an event on the 50th anniversary of the emergency, held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, jointly organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (under the Ministry of Culture) and the Ambedkar International Centre. Speaking at the event, he emphasised that the emergency wasn't just a misuse of power but an attempt to crush civil liberties. Millions were imprisoned, and freedom of the press was suppressed. He remarked that during the emergency, terms like 'socialist' and 'secular' were forcibly inserted into the Constitution -- a move that needs to be reconsidered. (ANI)
