SIR Not for Deleting Votes, Says BJP Telangana President
BJP Telangana President N Ramchander Rao defends the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, accusing Congress of creating a false narrative.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Telangana President N Ramchander Rao has launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing them of manufacturing a "false narrative" regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Rao clarified that the exercise is a standard administrative procedure aimed at updating voter rolls rather than a targeted attempt to disenfranchise specific groups.
Defending the SIR Process
Speaking to the media, Rao emphasized that the SIR is a routine measure designed to maintain the integrity of the electoral rolls across the nation. He noted that the process serves two primary functions: adding new eligible voters and removing entries for those who are deceased or appear as duplicates.
"SIR is not for deleting certain votes, but it is only for including new voters and also deleting those who are dead and those who are duplicate voters," Rao stated. He further pointed out that the Congress party had conducted similar exercises during their own tenure in power.
A 24-Year Gap and Political Frustration
The BJP leader highlighted the historical context of the revision, noting that this is the first SIR being conducted in 2026 after a significant 24-year hiatus since 2002. He also cited the recent elections in Kerala, where the SIR was completed and the Congress party emerged victorious, as evidence that the process does not inherently disadvantage them.
Rao attributed the current opposition from Congress to political desperation. "The Congress party is frustrated because they have been out of power for the last 12.5 years; therefore, they are trying to create this false narrative," he added, calling the opposition's stance "very wrong and false."
Supreme Court Justice Raises Concerns on Voter Rights
The political row follows significant remarks made by Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan during a ceremony at NALSAR in Hyderabad. Justice Bhuyan underscored the gravity of removing names from electoral rolls, stating that doing so without a fair hearing undermines the very foundation of India's constitutional democracy.
While acknowledging that Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act 1950 allows for the deletion of entries, the Justice emphasized strict procedural requirements:
- A voter must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard before their name is removed.
- Except in cases involving deceased individuals, names cannot be deleted without proper notice and a hearing.
- The right to vote is fundamentally tied to Indian citizenship and cannot be detached without violating constitutional principles.
The Risk of "Second-Class Citizenship"
Justice Bhuyan warned against any administrative process that could lead to the "wholesale disenfranchisement" of citizens. He remarked that turning millions of people into citizens without voting rights would effectively make them "second-class citizens" in their own country.
"Any process which leads to wholesale disenfranchisement of Indian citizens... would be outrightly violative of Articles 326 and 14 of the Constitution of India," the Justice noted, adding that no amount of political "whataboutery" could justify such an arbitrary procedure.