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The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
The struggle to be counted
It is not yet noon, but the tracks at the Jogbani railway station are shimmering in the heat. Jogbani in Bihar's Araria district is the last station on the Indian side. The Indo-Nepal border is just a few metres away. Across the railway line, in the cram-jam of run-down semi-urbanisation, the stench from the black refuse gurgling in the open drain overwhelms. The drain runs along a narrow, uneven brick street, down which women and men hurry. They are on their way to meet the booth-level officer (BLO), who sits in a home with the largest courtyard. He has brought enumeration forms issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. On June 24, the ECI announced the SIR in Bihar. There are 7.90 crore electors in the State, all of whom must fill in the enumeration forms if they want their name on the electoral rolls. The Assembly election is due in the last quarter of 2025. All enumeration forms must be submitted by July 25. The exercise, however, is primarily aimed at those whose names were not recorded in the 2003 electoral rolls, the last time that an intensive revision of the voter list was carried out in the State. An estimated 2.93 crore people fall into this category. At Jogbani, as people line up in front of Ijaz Ashraf (name changed to protect privacy), the BLO assigned to their ward, the anxiety is about documents. They have questions. In the crowd of over a dozen, only one person has a matriculation certificate, one of the 11 documents that the ECI has listed as proof of identity and place of birth for the SIR. Others have only ration cards, Aadhaar cards, or election photo identity card (EPIC) or voter ID cards, government documents that are so far not listed by the poll body. A Bench of the Supreme Court is currently hearing at least 10 petitions filed by Opposition leaders, activists, and non-profit organisations challenging the SIR. The Supreme Court has asked the ECI to consider including these documents that are widely available with people. Academics and activists say a majority of Bihar's population does not possess any of the 11 documents. Many face possible disenfranchisement. They argue that updated electoral rolls were published in January 2025 under the Special Summary Revision. The rush has caused confusion among the electorate and put stress on the governance system, they say. Many are calling it 'votebandi after notebandi', the 2016 demonetisation drive that caused similar chaos. An electorate, anxious and panicked Ashraf tells people that they only need to show their Aadhaar cards and fill in the enumeration form. The panic eases. 'We got a message on June 5 from the block-level authorities that no documents are needed. We were told to look at the Aadhaar cards of people and fill in the forms,' he says. Ashraf is a Shiksha Sahayak, a post created in the 2000s by the then Nitish Kumar government to address teacher shortages in primary and middle schools. Kumar is still in power in Bihar. These positions are mostly on contract basis. Many BLOs say they got oral instructions between July 5 and 8 to fill the form just on the basis of the EPIC and Aadhaar cards. Ashraf's phone rings endlessly, with residents asking for directions to his location. There is no house-to-house verification taking place that the ECI had said there would be. As of July 8, he had filled only 40-50% of the over 1,000 forms due from the area he covers. He must get at least 90% of the work done over the next two days. 'I have been told that my salary will be withheld if I don't meet the target,' he says. The ECI said the SRI was needed because of 'rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, young citizens becoming eligible to vote, non-reporting of deaths, and inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants'. The poll body's aim was to ensure 'all eligible citizens are included' and no 'ineligible voter is included' in the rolls. Over the next few minutes, almost seamlessly, electors are handed over enumeration forms, which they take to the two ASHA (accredited social health activists) workers sitting at a table next to Ashraf's to get them filled. Once the details are filled in, people sign or put a thumbprint on their forms. The process is over in less than five minutes. No documents are attached; no difficult questions are asked, given that several women here were born in Nepal and married men across the border. Some have brought new passport-size photographs; these too are not taken. On July 6, the office of the Bihar Chief Electoral Officer published an advertisement on the front pages of newspapers in Patna. 'Yadi avyashak dastavez tatha photo uplabdh nahi ho, to sirf ganana prapatra bhar kar BLO ko uplabdh karaa de (If you do not have the necessary documents, then just submit the enumeration forms to the BLOs),' it had stated. Later that day, the ECI issued a clarification that there was no change in the instructions to carry out the SIR. Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal says, 'Go through the orders please. There is no change in orders of the commission.' The ECI order of June 24 allows those who cannot produce the necessary documents now to submit them during the 'claims and objections' period between August 1 and September 1. The fact that the documents are still needed and the requirement has only been delayed is yet to percolate to the electors. At Jogbani, 26-year-old Alam Mohammad Raza fishes out his smartphone to show everyone a news clipping from a leading Hindi newspaper on ECI's 'no change' clarification. But the relief of not having to supply the documents is stronger than the doubt. The fear that many migrant workers will be left out of the voter list has also been dulled for now as many BLOs are allowing wives and fathers to sign the enumeration form on their behalf. Raza must produce proof of date and/or place of birth of himself and one parent, since he was born between July 1, 1987 and December 2, 2004. Those born after December 2, 2004 must produce documents that show proof of date and/or place of birth of themselves and both parents. The reactions to the SIR vary. For each, the significance of having their name on the electoral roll varies. For some, it is about the right to choose their representative; for many, it is about access to government schemes and subsidies; for the minority, it is the fear that if their names are struck off, they will no longer be deemed citizens and sent to detention camps. At Jogbani, Imtiaz Ansari, 58, who runs a readymade clothing shop, says he spent two days turning his house upside down looking for the school leaving certificate that shows he completed Class 10 in 1982. He hasn't needed it in a while. 'Didn't we vote just last year [in the Lok Sabha election]? Didn't we elect this government? Now the very people whom we elected and placed in the high office are probing us, asking whether we are citizens of this country or not.' Ansari's anger pours out in a jumble of questions. 'I didn't come from America or Hong Kong. My grandfather died here, my father is buried here, and I too shall be,' he says. Those born before July 1, 1987 must show a document with proof of date and/or place of birth. These documents must be attached to the enumeration forms. At least five of the 11 documents listed by the ECI do not indicate the applicants' place or date of birth. BLOs, overworked and frustrated The filing of enumeration forms has gathered pace over the last few days. As per press statements issued by the ECI, on July 5, only 13.19% of nearly 7.9 crore electors filled and returned their forms. This figure has been steadily growing. By July 9, it was at 57.48%. The ECI has not revealed how many of these forms have documents attached to them. There is a narrative that repeats itself across the districts that The Hindu visited. At Kamalpur, on the outskirts of Purnia district, BLO Ramesh Sahu (name changed) says before the advertisement appeared asking people to submit forms without documents, only 50 forms were filled over two days because no one could produce the necessary documents. Diligently rifling through the documents of the restive people surrounding him, Sahu's anxiety is peaking. He throws his hands up in frustration. He says he got the enumeration papers only on July 5 at 2 p.m. There are almost 900 electors in the booth under him. 'For the first three days, I could manage to process only 25 forms per day, since we needed to attach the documents. On June 7, I was told I need not ask for those documents; I could get the forms filled just on the basis of an Aadhaar card. Now each day, I am managing to process 50 to 60 forms,' he says. But the pressure is high. Every day he gets three or four calls from his supervisor. 'They say they will withhold my salary and seek a written explanation if I don't finish the task quickly,' he says. The entire State administration has been deployed to carry out this exercise. There are 98,498 BLOs at work, assisted by ASHA workers. With patchy Internet coverage, the work of uploading the forms is happening at the block office, where the BLO sends in the signed forms. Hurrying through the enumeration forms without the documents pushes the onus of verification on to the Electoral Registration Officer. 'When the draft electoral rolls are made public on August 1, thousands and thousands of names will be missing. My apprehension is that many won't read the draft rolls too, considering they are working far away from home. It is only when they return home on election day to cast their vote that they will find themselves out of the rolls,' says Jagdeep S. Chhokar, founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms, a non-profit working on electoral and political reforms. Dalits, angry and worried At 2.30 p.m. in Jalalgarh, on the outskirts of Purnia district, paddy saplings are being planted by women in fields with shin-high water. A clutch of women takes a break from bending over through the day. They have just finished lunch and are sitting on their haunches. The government's insistence on documents has the group riled up. 'There is a rate list for each document. An Aadhaar card costs ₹200 per person; a birth certificate anything between ₹1,000 and ₹2,000, depending on whether our children were born in hospital or at home. It also means leaving work for that day to chase after these,' Puja Devi, who is in her early 20s, says of the bribes she must pay through the system. She is a Mahadalit belonging to the Rishidev community, one of 20 Scheduled Castes that are the most marginalised of the Dalit group. The category was created by the Bihar government during Kumar's earlier term as Chief Minister in 2007. Everyone chips in with their travails. Rambha Devi, the eldest in the group, well into her 60s, intervenes. 'I have this big pile of documents,' she gesticulates. 'When they come asking for votes, I will slam it in their faces.' Her bluster invites guffaws from the group. How would their daily lives be affected if they are not on the voting list? The answer is unanimous: they will lose all benefits from both Central and State government schemes. 'It is as good as being dead,' says Parvati Devi, in her 30s, speaking the sobering truth. Naveen Kumar, 33, at Thariya Bakiya village in Supaul town, in a district of the same name, is from the Rishidev community. 'This looks like the government wants to drive us out. Isn't this NRC (National Register of Citizens)? Aren't they asking for the same documents that people would need for NRC?' he says. Naveen is a graduate, the only one in his village to have been to college. 'I have every document that the government needs. But at least 50% of people won't,' he says. He is annoyed at the government for sending everyone into this document-hunting spree. As per Bihar's 2022 caste survey, only 14.71% of adults in the State have completed Class 10. At Kamlapur in Saran district, Mohammad Mazhar, 28, says he has been trying to make sense of the ECI's order. His worry is that though he has the school leaving certificate, the elderly at home do not. The worry is further accentuated by the speculation that failure to produce proof of birth and place could lead to not only disenfranchisement but also deportation. 'If the existing electoral roll was good enough to elect the country's Prime Minister, why is it not good enough to pick the Chief Minister? If the existing voter list is unreliable, let the Prime Minister resign,' he says, angrily. Dilip Kumar Yadav, a private school teacher in Phulparas, Madhubani district, has stopped at a wayside stall in the main chowk for his evening cup of tea. As the conversation veers towards SIR, he declares, 'I will not get all this done. I am working towards getting citizenship of a different country. I don't want to stay in Bihar.' The group around him laughs. 'One man rules this State for 20 years, but does nothing. I have voted for the BJP twice. What have we got in return?' he says. In the Bihar Assembly, of the 243 seats, the BJP has 79 and the Janata Dal (United), which is part of the National Democratic Alliance at both the Centre and in the State, has 45. Edited by Sunalini Mathew
India Gazette
09-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Owaisi labels revision of voter list in Bihar as
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday labelled the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly polls as 'backdoor NRC (National Register of Citizens)'. He said that the 'intensive revision' of the voter list in Bihar serves to 'disempower the poorest people and paves the way for their exclusion from citizenship'. 'The Bihar backdoor NRC serves two clear purposes: it disempowers the poorest people of Bihar and paves the way for their exclusion from citizenship. In this country, voting is the only real power the poor have. That right cannot be snatched away just because someone doesn't have a specific document,' Owaisi posted on X. He stated that the next step for those who fail to produce the required documents would be the denial of basic citizenship rights, including ration cards and the right to own agricultural land. The AIMIM chief stated that the 'intensive revision' happening now casts doubts on all previous voter registrations and elections that the ECI oversaw earlier. 'Once someone is removed from the electoral rolls for not being able to produce documents, the next step is predictable: they will be denied basic citizenship rights--ration cards, passports, the right to own agricultural land. Such individuals will be left vulnerable to blackmail and extortion,' Owaisi said. 'By launching this so-called 'Intensive Revision,' the Election Commission of India (ECI) is casting doubt on all previous voter registrations and elections that it itself oversaw. Every *Special Summary Revision* is supposed to weed out duplicate or false entries and strengthen the integrity of the rolls. The last 'Intensive Revision' in Bihar was in 2003--just before the 2004 Lok Sabha and 2005 Vidhan Sabha elections,' he added. Owaisi questioned the powers prescribed to the Booth Level Officers in deciding the citizenship of people. Citing the Supreme Court's judgment on the Babu Lal Hussein case, the AIMIM chief criticised the arbitrary powers being given to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs. 'Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are not senior administrators; their duties are narrowly defined. And yet, they are now being tasked with deciding who is a citizen! BLOs are confused about their responsibilities, ill-equipped to help voters, and unprotected when attempting to do their jobs fairly. Similarly, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs are being given arbitrary powers to doubt the citizenship of individuals--powers they do not legally possess. The Supreme Court's Babu Lal Hussein judgment made it clear: genuine evidence is required to question a person's citizenship,' he added. Owaisi stated that voters whose names appeared on the electoral rolls after the 'Special Summary Revision' on January 7 can't be forced to undergo the process again, as it would be in violation of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and its rules. 'Electors who do not submit Enumeration Forms will be excluded from the draft roll and will be required to file Form 6 along with additional declarations. This is fundamentally flawed. Voters whose names appeared on the electoral rolls after the *Special Summary Revision* (as of January 7, 2025) cannot be forced to undergo the process all over again, nor should they face unreasonable consequences for failing to submit this new form. This violates the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and its associated rules,' he said. 'Why has the ECI chosen only these 11 documents, many of which are not even available to a majority of Biharis? Why was there no public consultation or engagement with political parties before this drastic move? Public consultation is standard practice for the ECI before major changes are introduced,' he added. Owaisi further criticised the ECI for failing to consider the population in Bihar that lives outside the state and returns to cast their votes. He also said that the current SIR exercise suggests 'poor planning and afterthought', given that the constitutional body was 'monitoring and updating the electoral rolls' even as recently as June 2025. 'Even as recently as June 2025, the Commission was actively monitoring and updating the electoral rolls. There was no indication at the time that a State-wide Intensive Revision (SIR) was under consideration. This abrupt change suggests poor planning and afterthought,' Owaisi said. 'The ECI has also failed to consider that a large number of eligible voters from Bihar may currently be outside their home districts or constituencies for work or study. It is entirely common for such voters to return home during election periods to cast their vote. This 'verification' process, conducted in their absence, unfairly penalises them,' he added. Intensifying his critique, Owaisi flagged the issue of multiple amendments to ECI's notification, claiming that the goal was to create panic among the poorest of the poor, who he said were being forced to prove their citizenship. 'The ECI is treating our citizenship and voting rights like a do-it-yourself project. It has amended its own notification multiple times--first requiring documents, then exempting certain groups, now saying a form must be filled, but documents aren't necessary. Clearly, the notification came first; the planning came later. The goal was simple: to create panic among the poorest of the poor. People already struggling to feed their children are now being forced to pause their lives and dig up decades-old documents to prove they are not foreigners,' the AIMIM chief said. 'This entire process reflects a complete non-application of mind and worse, mala fide--on the part of the Election Commission,' he added. As tensions rise over the ongoing Bihar Bandh and debates surrounding voter list revisions, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken a significant step to reaffirm constitutional principles. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has posted an image on its 'X' account highlighting Article 326 of the Constitution of India, which mandates universal adult suffrage, ensuring every Indian citizen above 18 years of age can vote unless disqualified. The provision, introduced in 1989 to lower the voting age from 21, underscores India's commitment to broader democratic participation. 'Article 326 - Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage. The elections to the House of the People and the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage, that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than eighteen years of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature and is not otherwise disqualified under this Constitution or any law made by the appropriate Legislature on the ground of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such election,' posted by ECI on X. (ANI)
India Today
03-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
News Menu, July 3: PM Modi's global quest; Amarnath Yatra begins
Good morning. On July 3, 1967, the BBC announced its bold leap into regular colour television broadcasts, painting the world's screens with vibrant hues. This global milestone in broadcasting history set the stage for a new era of media, inspiring innovation Today serves a news menu blending the colours of global diplomacy, domestic political spice, spiritual resilience, and regional grit, reflecting India's dynamic in Ghana: PM Modi's Global Quest Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-nation tour (July 2–9) continues in Ghana (July 2–3), engaging President John Dramani Mahama to bolster economic, energy, defence, and development ties. On July 3, Modi addresses Ghana's Parliament, a rare visit by an Indian PM. He then lands in Trinidad and Tobago (July 3–4), the first such visit since 1999, meeting President Christine Carla Kangaloo to mark 180 years of Indian diaspora ties. Upcoming stops include Argentina (July 4–5, first PM visit in 57 years, meeting President Javier Milei), Brazil for the BRICS Summit (July 5–8), and Namibia (July 9, addressing Parliament).Modi's tour amplifies India's Global South leadership, with trade and counter-terrorism as key Spice: RSS Prant Pracharak MeetThe Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) gears up for a three-day Prant Pracharak meeting in Delhi from July 4 onwards, led by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The focus is on planning the RSS's centenary year and organisational meet signals RSS's push to shape India's socio-political narrative ahead of 2025 state Ballot Raita: Voter Roll ClashINDIA bloc leaders met the Election Commission to oppose Bihar's Special Summary Revision of voter rolls, alleging it could disenfranchise 2 crore voters before the 2025 polls. The Opposition accuses the BJP-led NDA of Take: The row heats up Bihar's electoral cauldron, with trust in institutions on the Jodi: The NDA showcases Nitish Kumar's leadership alongside PM Modi's development record, with Modi's posters at JDU offices signaling unity. RJD's Tejashwi Yadav calls it a 'temporary' alliance, alleging BJP plans President's Rule post-polls. Jan Suraj's Prashant Kishor mocks the Modi-Nitish duo, claiming BJP aims to swallow Hot: Hot Maharashtra's Language FireMNS workers were filmed assaulting a sweet shop owner for not speaking Marathi, sparking outrage. Shopkeepers plan a massive protest at noon on July 3, with an FIR against the incident reignites linguistic pride versus inclusivity debates, with political fallout Politics: BJP MLC Manisha Kayande's claim of 'Urban Naxal' infiltration in the Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage triggered heated debates in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, drawing opposition row risks polarising a sacred tradition, testing Maharashtra's political Spice: Amarnath Yatra BeginsThe Amarnath Yatra 2025 launches on July 3 from Pahalgam and Baltal, with J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah present. Post-Pahalgam terror attack, CRPF, anti-sabotage checks, and drone surveillance ensure pilgrim Mix: Weather Woes and MoreMandi, Himachal Pradesh: A cloudburst kills 11, with 34 missing; rescue operations battle heavy rains, with alerts for HP, Uttarakhand, UP, Punjab, Haryana, and A heatwave fuels a Catalonia wildfire in Spain, claiming two lives, disrupting daily Himalayan deluges to European infernos, extreme weather tests global Pradesh Jam: Highway HavocA highway body lawyer's remark, questioning why people 'left early' during a 40-hour Madhya Pradesh traffic jam that killed three last month, drew a show-cause notice. The authorities distanced themselves from the Halwa: Pakistan Media Ban Reinstated AgainThe social media handles of many prominent Pakistani celebrities were once again blocked in India, a day after the restrictions were lifted. On Wednesday, the ban on Pakistani news and social media channels, imposed during Operation Sindoor for misinformation, was in Soup: National Herald CaseThe Rouse Avenue Court continues hearings on the National Herald money laundering case on July 3. The ED alleges Congress leaders plotted to acquire Rs 2,000 crore in AJL assets, with the court seeking pre-2010 shareholding Take: The legal battle keeps Congress on edge, with political stakes BiteOn July 3, 1967, the BBC's colour TV announcement lit up global screens, heralding a vivid new era. TV technology has made rapid advances since that eventful day, and is on the cusp of a bigger revolution with wearable TVs promising a bold, connected future.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Himachal Pradesh#Narendra Modi#Amarnath Yatra#Maharashtra Navnirman Sena#Maharashtra
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Owaisi writes to EC against special voter roll revision in poll-bound Bihar
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has written to the Election Commission raising objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar. In the letter, Owaisi pointed out that the electoral roll for Bihar has already undergone a Special Summary Revision, which addresses issues such as rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, non-reporting of deaths and inclusion of names of foreign illegal immigrants in electoral rolls, reasons now being cited to justify the SIR. However, the Special Summary Revision which has been undertaken by the Commission on previous occasions for all the other states as well as 2024 Lok Sabha elections covers all these issues, he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo Recalling the last Intensive Revision conducted for Bihar in 2003, Owaisi said it took place well ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha polls and the 2005 Assembly polls, which gave reasonable time for electors to seek legal remedies for addition or deletion. "With this instance, we would like to place our first and foremost objection to the Commission's order directing SIR in Bihar - The SIR will have a deleterious effect on electors' across the state due to its proximity to the upcoming assembly elections," he said in the letter dated June 28. Live Events Among other concerns, Owaisi said the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) /Additional Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) has the power to doubt the eligibility of the proposed Electors not only for non-submission of requisite documents but for any reason otherwise as well. In fact, the ERO/AERO can even refer cases of suspected foreign nationals to the competent authority under Citizenship Act, 1955. This wide and unsupervised power of ERO/AERO can be misused to not only cause wide scale disenfranchisement but can even lead to loss of livelihood for the affected electors. The Hyderabad MP requested the EC to explain the rationale behind the SIR and urged it to grant an in-person hearing to AIMIM and opposition representatives so that their concerns could be presented before the Commission's consideration. Owaisi earlier accused the EC of implementing 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," he had said in a post on X. Even the best estimates state that only three-fourths of births are registered and most government documents are riddled with errors, he said. Noting that people in the flood-prone Seemanchal region of Bihar are among the poorest, he called it a "cruel joke" to expect them to possess their parents' documents. "The result of this exercise will be that a large number of Bihar's poor will be removed from the electoral roll," he claimed.
India Gazette
28-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Owaisi writes to EC over special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, says it will have 'deleterious effect' on electors
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 28 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI), raising strong objections to the ongoing 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. In a letter dated Saturday, June 28, Owaisi expressed concerns that the revision exercise could have a 'deleterious effect' on electors ahead of the upcoming Bihar legislative assembly elections. He urged the ECI to provide a 'detailed explanation' on several issues raised by his party in a formal representation. Speaking to ANI, the AIMIM chief said, 'Our request to the Election Commission of India is that we want a detailed explanation on the concerns which we have highlighted in the written representation which we have sent to the Election Commissioners.' Owaisi questioned whether the voter list used in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections included names of 'foreign illegal migrants.' He also pointed out that a Special Summary Revision (SSR) had already been conducted in Bihar between October 29, 2024, and January 6, 2025. 'Number one is that the voter list on which the 2024 Parliament election took place, did it have foreign illegal migrants? Secondly, the Special Summary Revision was undertaken for Bihar from 29th October 2024 to 6th January 2025. The third point which we have brought to the notice of the Election Commission is that last time when the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) was done, Bihar had one year to go for the Parliament elections and two years to go for the Assembly elections. Now you are saying that within one month, the whole SIR should be completed. You have not even given training to the Booth Level Officers (BLOs). How is it possible?' he said. The AIMIM chief further alleged that BLOs have not received adequate training, and questioned the feasibility of conducting such an intensive exercise in such a short timeframe, especially in a state with over 7.90 crore voters. He also criticised the extent of powers being given to BLOs during the revision, claiming it could lead to 'disenfranchisement' and 'loss of livelihood.' 'There are more than 7.90 crore voters in Bihar, and the 5th point is that the BLOs have been given unbridled powers. The note says any house is closed or locked, go three times, slip the enumeration form, and after that the power is - they can even refer this case as suspected foreign national to competent authority under Citizenship Act 1955. 'This will lead to not only disenfranchisement of Indians but also loss of livelihood. How is it possible? How are you giving these powers to BLOs?' Owaisi said. He further questioned the criteria for establishing a voter's date of birth. 'Sixth point that electors born before 01/07/1987 must show a document to establish the date of birth. Electors born between 01/07/1987 and 02/12/2024 have to provide their birth certificate or one of their parents... and then you are saying give a list of 11 documents. How did you arrive at these dates? What is the allegation of illegal migrants? Were there illegal migrants in 2024 voter list? We have to question that also...' he said. Owaisi also highlighted logistical challenges, especially in flood-prone areas like Seemanchal. 'Please remember that for nearly two months in a year, many regions in Bihar's Seemanchal are cut off. Thousands of acres of land are cut off because of floods. People lose their homes, and many hospitals are closed. What is the percentage of people having all these documents? If you have made 1987 the cutoff date, 38 years have passed, and what is the database that ECI has? We have given in a formal representation to the ECI. We hope and expect that the ECI will address all these concerns and give us a reply. Why was this not discussed in all-party meeting? This should have been discussed in an all-party meeting,' he said. The letter written by Owaisi to ECI reads, 'We would like to place our first and foremost objection to the Commission's order directing SIR in Bihar -The SIR will have a deleterious effect on electors across the state due to its proximity to the upcoming assembly elections.' It further states, 'The Commission intends to rush through this process, thereby raising serious concerns over the actual intent and the increased risk of new polling stations affecting the level playing field. Even though the District Electoral Officer (DEO) has to consult the representative of Political Parties before finalizing the proposal for a new Polling Station, however before the final publication of roll, a political party may not be able to take strong objections to the proposal.' (ANI)
