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Scroll.in
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
‘Deeply disturbed': Editors Guild condemns FIR against journalist Ajit Anjum
The Editors Guild of India on Wednesday condemned the first information report filed against journalist Ajit Anjum for allegedly interfering in the Bihar voter roll revision process and provoking communal discord. In a statement, the press body noted that the action against Anjum for a 'legitimate journalistic exercise seems excessive'. The Editors Guild is 'deeply disturbed' by the FIR, it added. Anjum was booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the 1951 Representation of Peoples Act after he visited a polling booth in Bihar's Ballia on Saturday. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Anjum had claimed that he had found irregularities in the revision of the electoral rolls in the state, with several enumeration forms at the booth not having photos of the applicants and others that had been partially filled or did not have signatures. Anjum's YouTube channel has 75 lakh subscribers. On Wednesday, the Editors Guild of India stated that the administration has several means to counter or clarify a media report. 'Criminalising journalism and invoking serious legal provisions against journalists should not be among them,' it added. The press body said it hoped that journalists, including Anjum, would not 'face impediments in discharge of their professional duties'. 'All stakeholders must work to safeguard and promote journalism that is both responsible and truthful,' it added. On Monday, the Digipub News India Foundation, an association of independent digital news organisations and journalists, stated that the FIR against Anjum was a direct assault on independent journalism. The 'vague allegations' against the journalist were neither credible nor a reason enough for an FIR, the news association added. 'Instead of addressing those legitimate questions, the Election Commission, through this FIR, has attempted to intimidate not just him but all independent journalists who dare to report from the ground,' stated the foundation. The revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar was announced by the Election Commission on June 24. As part of the exercise, persons whose names were not on the 2003 voter list will need to submit proof of eligibility to vote. This means that 2.9 crore out of the state's 7.8 crore voters – or about 37% of the electors – have to submit documentary evidence. The Opposition parties have alleged that the special intensive revision of electoral rolls risked disenfranchising more than 2.5 crore voters, as they may not be able to produce the necessary documents. Anjum was booked under sections pertaining to criminal trespass, disobeying a lawful order, preventing a public servant from doing their duty and hurting religious sentiments. The FIR against the journalist was filed based on a complaint by a booth-level officer named Mohammed Ansrarul Haque. The Begusarai district administration alleged that Anjum, his associates and a cameraperson had made unauthorised videos of the voter roll revision process. Anjum claimed on Monday that a Muslim block-level officer was 'being used as a scapegoat ' against him. 'Instead of addressing the questions raised in the video, the administration is resorting to intimidation tactics,' Anjum said on social media. 'All I am saying is that I'm right here in Begusarai. If needed, I will fight up to the Supreme Court. I won't be scared.'
Scroll.in
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Journalist Ajit Anjum booked for video about Bihar voter roll revision
Journalist Ajit Anjum was booked for allegedly interfering in the Bihar voter roll revision process and for allegedly provoking communal discord, Newslaundry reported. A first information report was filed against Anjum under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the 1951 Representation of Peoples Act after he visited a polling booth in Bihar's Ballia on Saturday, The Indian Express reported. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Anjum had claimed that he had found irregularities in the electoral process, with several enumeration forms at the booth not having photos of the applicants and others that had been partially filled or not having signatures. Anjum's YouTube channel has 75 lakh subscribers. He was booked under sections pertaining to criminal trespass, disobeying a lawful order, preventing a public servant from doing their duty and hurting religious sentiments, The Indian Express reported. The FIR against Anjum was filed based on a complaint by a booth-level officer named Mohammed Ansrarul Haque. The Begusarai district administration alleged that Anjum, his associates and cameraperson had made unauthorised videos of the voter roll revision process. 'In the video, the YouTuber identified people of a particular caste by forcefully checking sensitive documents of a particular polling station and false propaganda was spread about the possibility of incomplete documents and fake signatures,' the administration alleged. Anjum on Monday said that a Muslim block-level officer was 'being used as a scapegoat ' against him. 'Instead of addressing the questions raised in the video, the administration is resorting to intimidation tactics,' Anjum said on social media. 'All I'm saying is that I'm right here in Begusarai. If needed, I will fight up to the Supreme Court. I won't be scared.' The Digipub News India Foundation, an association of independent digital news organisations and journalists, said that the FIR against Anjum was a direct assault on independent journalism. The 'vague allegations' against Anjum were neither credible nor reason enough for an FIR, the news association said in a statement. 'Instead of addressing those legitimate questions, the Election Commission, through this FIR, has attempted to intimidate not just him but all independent journalists who dare to report from the ground,' it added.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Journalist Ajit Anjum booked for ‘interfering' in Bihar electoral roll revision, police say
A senior journalist has been booked on charges of interfering with Bihar's electoral roll revision and provoking communal discord, police said Monday. Ajit Anjum, an award-winning journalist, was booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and The Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, after he visited a poll booth in Balia on July 12. Anjum, who runs a YouTube channel, claims to have found several enumeration forms at the booth – some without photos, and others partially filled or without signatures. On a complaint from a booth level officer (BLO), Mohammed Ansrarul Haque, Anjum was booked under sections such as criminal trespass, disobeying a lawful order, preventing a public servant from doing their duty and attempting to hurt religious feelings of the BNS, as well as sections of the Representation of Peoples Act. The complainant said in the FIR: 'I, Mohammad Ansarul Haq, BLO Part No. 16145, Sahibpur Kamal Assembly constituency, was uploading counting forms from the BLO App at the Block Auditorium in Ballia on July 12, 2025. Around 9:30 am, YouTuber Ajit Anjum, his associates, and cameraman entered the auditorium without authorisation and started questioning me about the number of voters in my booth, how many forms I had distributed, and how many I had received back.' The complaint also claims that the persons asked about the number of Muslim voters and how many had their submitted papers. 'I informed them that my booth has 1,020 voters, and I had distributed forms to all and received them back. However, the YouTuber's focus was on the claim that Muslim voters were being harassed, which was completely false. The YouTuber and his team did not allow me to work for an hour, causing significant disruption to my work. Therefore, I request that action be taken against YouTuber Ajit Anjum and his associates for obstructing government work and spreading communal discord,' it said. Anjum, however, stood by his claim, saying his news report had been 'fair and unbiased'. 'I, as a conscious journalist, had shown how the Election Commission of India's rules were not being followed. I have not revealed the identity of anyone, nor have I shown any close shots of the enumeration forms. Rather than taking action against its own official they lodged an FIR against me. But I'm not one to be cowed down,' he said.
NDTV
10-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Bihar Survey To Continue, Top Court Suggests These 3 IDs Must Be Considered
New Delhi: Aadhaar, ration cards, and an identity card issued by the Election Commission itself should be considered as valid documents to re-verify voters' identities - a process that has been allowed to continue - ahead of the Bihar election this year, the Supreme Court observed Thursday. The observation came after a high-stakes hearing over a 'special intensive revision' of the state's electoral roll, an exercise criticised as "arbitrary" and "discriminatory" in forcing only voters registered after 2003 to to re-verify themselves and to do so without using common government IDs like the Aadhaar or even the poll panel's own Electoral Photo Identity Card. Approached by a clutch of petitioners - including the Association for Democratic Reforms and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who said she feared a similar exercise before the election in Bengal next year - the court also asked three important questions of the poll panel. These included asking the EC to explain which section of the law - the Representation of Peoples Act - allowed it to conduct this exercise. "There is either 'summary revision' or 'intensive revision'. Where is 'special intensive revision'?" the poll panel was asked. Explain the panel's authority to conduct a 'special intensive revision', Explain the validity of the review procedure, and Explain the timing of the exercise, i.e., just before an election. The EC was also asked why it had linked this exercise to the 2025 Bihar election, another red flag by petitioners who said a voter list revision could not take place months before polling. These questions will hopefully be answered when the court re-convenes July 28. 'Serious Doubts': Supreme Court's Tough Talk Earlier today the court indicated the problem was not with a revision of the voter list but the timing, and said it had "serious doubts" over the EC's ability to complete the task - without excluding genuine voters and allowing individuals the right to appeal - in time for the election. "Your exercise is not the problem... it is the timing. We have serious doubts if you can manage this exercise. With such a big population (an estimated eight crore people) being subject to this 'intensive review', is it possible to link this to the forthcoming election?" the court asked. "... a person will be disenfranchised ahead of the election and s/he won't have the time to defend the exclusion before voting," Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia noted. "There is nothing wrong in this intensive process so non-citizen do not remain on rolls... but it should be de hors (i.e., conducted separately from) this election," Justice Joymala Bagchi said. During the hearing the petitioners and the court questioned the decision to disallow government IDs like Aadhaar, PAN (Permanent Account Number) and the poll panel's own card. The court pointed out the EC's enumeration (exercise) is tied to the identity of an individual, i.e., whether s/he is, in fact, a citizen of India and resident of Bihar and, therefore, should be allowed to vote. "... the entire exercise is primarily about identity only. We feel Aadhaar should have been there (on the list of approved government-issued IDs)," the Supreme Court had observed. 'Aadhaar Not Proof Of...' Responding to the arguments, the EC pointed out the Aadhar is not, technically, proof of citizenship because certain foreign nationals can also be issued the ID. "It is not a proof of certain things... it is only a proof of identity. Each document has a purpose and for this purpose the Aadhaar is not usable." Dwivedi rejected the court saying other governemnt IDs, such as a caste certificate, are "based on Aadhaar". So how can caste certificate be accepted and Aadhaar rejected, the court asked. NDTV Explains | EC Is Revising Bihar Voter List. Why Is The Opposition Against It "Issue of a caste certificate is not based only on Aadhaar... Aadhar is not proof of citizenship or domicile. If someone objects that a person is not who s/he claims to be, then Aadhar can be used." On the overall need for a 'special intensive revision', Dwivedi said, "Some petitions say around 1.1 crore persons have died and another 70 lakh have migrated. That itself makes a case for intensive revision." The EC also insisted, in response to the court asking questions about appeals against disenfranchisement, that all those whose names had been removed would get a chance to explain. Political Row Over 'Special Revision' The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal - key members of the opposition Mahagathbandhan bloc - have been vocal in their critique of the voter list revision, arguing it seeks to exclude sone voters and favour the ruling alliance. That point was mentioned today by senior advocate Vrinda Grover, who said, "This is not an ordinary exercise... it is designed to exclude the poor, the migrant labourer, and vulnerable sections of society.
News18
10-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Aadhaar Card Not Proof Of Citizenship': Poll Body To SC On Bihar Electoral Rolls Revision
Last Updated: The Election Commission's comment came during the hearing of the petitions challenging the "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Bihar. Aadhaar card is not a valid document to determine citizenship, the Election Commission of India told the Supreme Court on Thursday. The poll body's comment came during the hearing of the petitions challenging the 'Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Bihar. The remarks were made in response to the petitioners' queries to the ECI regarding the exclusion of the Aadhaar card and the Voter card from the list of eleven documents specified by the poll body as citizenship documents for the enumeration of voters, who were not present in the 2003 electoral roll. Appearing for one of the petitioners, senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan pointed out that even though the Aadhaar card is an acceptable document as per the Representation of Peoples Act, the ECI does not accept it for the Bihar SIR. In response to this, Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the Election Commission of India, said, 'Aadhar Card cannot be used as proof of citizenship." Additionally, the timing of the Election Commission's 'special intensive revision' of Bihar's electoral rolls – months before the Assembly election – was also questioned by the Supreme Court. 'Your exercise is not the problem… it is the timing," Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia told the Election Commission, noting individuals dropped from the list would have no time to appeal the exclusion. 'There is nothing wrong in the exercise, except that a person will be disenfranchised ahead of the election and s/he won't have the time to defend the exclusion before voting," Justice Dhulia continued. view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 14:37 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
