Latest news with #DerekO'Brien
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to 6 Months Jail by Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal
The Indian Express covers a wide spectrum of national and international news, including daily updates, political developments, election coverage, gadget and mobile reviews, technology updates, entertainment news, Bollywood trends, sports news and public opinions on daily topics. The Indian Express's comprehensive coverage extends to global events, providing insightful analysis on international affairs. With a focus on both Indian and global perspectives, the Indian Express delivers top-notch editorial analysis and in-depth reporting. Stay informed with the latest news, trends, explained and expert views from India and around the world. You can search us on YouTube by: @indianexpress, indian express, indian express newspaper today,indian express newspaper,indian express editorial analysis,indian express analysis,indian express analysis today,indian express,indian express news,the indian express newspaper analysis,the indian express,the indian express newspaper analysis today,the indian express editorial analysis,the indian express newspaper. Stay Tuned To Indian Express For More Updates: Watch Out Our Weekly Shows: 🡆 Political Pulse - 🡆 Express Explained In 60 Seconds - 🡆 Zero Hour with Derek O' Brien - 🡆 Indian Express Explained - 🡆 UPSC Essentials-
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SIR an attempt to bring NRC via backdoor: Trinamool Congress
The Trinamool Congress alleged on Saturday that the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision for the Bihar election is a ploy to surreptitiously introduce NRC. The Trinamool claimed that INDIA bloc parties will fight against the EC and the BJP government on this issue. Derek O'Brien Linking the EC's exercise for the Bihar election with the upcoming West Bengal election, Derek O'Brien questioned the timing of the EC's revision. 'Why is this exercise being done now? We have evidence explaining why it is being done now. It is because the BJP's latest internal survey for Bengal shows 46-49 seats for them if Assembly polls are held. In their desperation to change or attempt to change this, they are doing this. Where did we get this figure from? The AITC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee mentioned this number during his speech in Diamond Harbour a few days ago. That is where the number came from,' O'Brien said. He pointed out that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was the first person to raise the EPIC issue and claimed that in Parliament, INDIA group sought an appointment with EC, but were not given one. Calling the SIR as a 'backdoor entry for NRC', O'Brien added, 'It is a sinister move! In 1935 under the Nazis, people were supposed to provide an ancestor pass, a proof of paper. Is this the new version of the Nazi ancestor pass? Where do we go from here?' Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose called the EC's revision of voter list as an 'important issue for democracy and transparent elections.' 'The BJP has a habit of misusing central agencies to target the Opposition. We are seeing this again, that through the ECI, the BJP is targeting the Opposition. Our Chairperson and CM Mamata Banerjee had raised this issue. On June 26, the ECI announced Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will be conducted for Bihar Assembly polls, but the real target is Bengal.' AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi also targeted the EC. 'The Election Commission is conducting NRC in Bihar through the backdoor. To be enrolled in the voter roll, every citizen will now have to show documents not only proving when and where they were born, but also when and where their parents were born. Even the best estimates state that only three-fourths of births are registered. Most government documents are riddled with errors. People in the flood-prone Seemanchal region are among the poorest; they can barely afford two meals a day. To expect them to possess their parents' documents is a cruel joke...,' he posted on X.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
As per mandate under the Article 326 of the Constitution, EC has started the process of Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in Bihar
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): The Election Commission has started its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to verify the eligibility of electors in each constituency ahead of Bihar elections, fulfilling its mandate under Article 326 of the Constitution, according to an official statement from the poll panel. 'Article 326 specifies eligibility to become an elector. Only Indian citizens aged 18 years and above, and ordinary residents in that constituency, are eligible. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has already started successfully in Bihar for verifying the eligibility of each elector with full participation of all Political Parties,' the EC's statement read. More than one Lakh volunteers will be assisting genuine electors, particularly the elderly, the sick, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), the poor, and other vulnerable groups during the SIR, said the EC. Notably, the printing and door-to-door distribution of new Enumeration Forms (EF) for the existing more than 7.8 crore electors of Bihar has already started in the 243 Assembly Constituencies. 'Online filling of the new Enumeration Forms (EFs) has already been enabled and has also started successfully. Out of the existing 7,89,69,844 electors, 4.96 Crore electors, whose names are already in the last intensive revision of Electoral Roll on 01.01.2003, have to simply verify so, fill the Enumeration Form and submit it,' EC said. The EC said that out of the existing 7,89,69,844 electors, 4.96 Crore electors, whose names are already in the last intensive revision of the Electoral Roll on January 1, 2003, have to simply verify it by filling the Enumeration form and submitting it. The Poll panel has already appointed 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and will appoint an additional 20,603 BLOs for new polling stations. All recognised National and state political parties registered with the ECI have also appointed 1,54,977 Booth Level Agents (BLAs). They can still appoint more BLAs. All Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates are engaging all the BLOs full-time during the SIR. Additionally, SMSs are also being sent to the 5,74,07,022 registered mobile numbers of Bihar, with all activities regarding the SIR progressing as scheduled. Earlier, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien criticised the EC for conducting an SIR, claiming that the poll panel is trying to 'bring the NRC in from the back door,' referring to the controversial National Register of Citizens against which there were multiple protests a few years ago. The TMC MP said, 'The EC (Election Commission) is trying to bring the NRC in from the back door. In 1935 under the Nazis, you were supposed to be given an ancestor pass. Some proof of paper to show that you are an Indian citizen is this the new version of that Nazi Ancestor Pass?... All the INDIA bloc parties will take this up in and outside Parliament.' AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has also accused the EC of trying to implement the NRC in Bihar, and warned that this could stop many rightful Indian citizens from voting and harm public trust in the Election Commission ahead of elections. (ANI)
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Voter list revision in poll-bound Bihar a ploy to bring in NRC, says TMC
Days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter lists in poll-bound Bihar was a backdoor attempt to implement the NRC, the TMC Saturday said that move came in the wake up 'BJP's internal survey showing that the party will get just 46-49 seats in the state'. 'Why is this exercise being done now? We have evidence explaining why it is being done now. It is because the BJP's latest internal survey for Bengal shows 46-49 seats for them if Assembly polls are held. In their desperation to change or attempt to change this, they are doing this,' said TMC Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien at a press briefing in Delhi. Mentioning Mamata's remarks on the SIR being the 'backdoor entry for NRC', he said: 'It is a sinister move. In 1935 under the Nazis, people were supposed to provide an ancestor pass, a proof of paper. Is this the new version of the Nazi ancestor pass? Where do we go from here?' The poll panel had on Tuesday announced the special intensive revision of the electoral roll, starting from Wednesday, which will culminate with the publication of the electoral roll on September 30 before the Assembly polls due in November. The last such revision was in 2003. The Opposition has expressed concerns about the exercise potentially disenfranchising voters. The Congress said that the ECI was admitting that 'all is not well with India's electoral roll' but called the revision 'a cure worse than the disease'. He said that INDIA bloc parties will raise this issue inside and outside Parliament. 'We will not wait for Parliament to start. We can have the coordination in the House, but we cannot wait that long,' he said. At the press briefing, TMC Rajya Sabha member Sagarika Ghose said: 'This is a very important issue for democracy and transparent elections. The BJP has a habit of misusing Central agencies to target the Opposition. We are seeing this again, that through the ECI, the BJP is targeting the Opposition.' TMC Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale said that the Modi government 'is taking away' people's 'right to vote, and bringing in the NRC using the Election Commission'. 'The purpose of this new exercise is to manipulate Bengal elections for the BJP and then replicate this model all over India,' said Gokhale.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Constitutional body should not turn into party office," TMC slams ECI on revision in electoral rolls of Bihar
ANI 28 Jun 2025, 15:09 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): Following the decision of the Election Commission of India to revise the electoral roll ahead of Bihar's elections, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O' Brien on Saturday stated that in the desperation to change or attempt to change things, one does desperate things. 'TMC has the highest regard for the Election Commission of India as a constitutional body, but the constitutional body should not turn into the branch office of the BJP. Why is this exercise being suddenly done right now? We have evidence that it is being done now because the latest BJP's internal survey for Bengal shows the BJP will get 46 to 49 seats in Bengal Assembly polls. In desperation to change or attempt to change things, you do these desperate things...' the TMC MP said in a press conference. He further stated that the ECI was conducting an exercise called the special intensive revision of the electoral roll in Bihar, which would also be followed in West Bengal. 'The ECI is conducting an exercise called special intensive revision of the electoral roll starting in Bihar, and then they said they'll follow it up in Bengal. Under this, new and existing voters have to submit proof of birth & birthplace for those born before July 1987. Proof of birth & birthplace for self and one parent for those born between July 1987 to December 2004. Proof of birth & birthplace for self and both parents for those born after December 2004. If these documents are not submitted within a month, your name will be deleted from the voter list,' Brien said. Derek O' Brien further stated that the EC was trying to bring back NRC in from the back door. 'The EC (Election Commission) is trying to bring the NRC in from the back door. In 1935 under the Nazis, you were supposed to be given an ancestor pass. Some proof of paper to show that you are an Indian citizen is this the new version of that Nazi Ancestor Pass?... All the INDIA bloc parties will take this up in and outside Parliament...' he added. (ANI)
