13 Crore Voters Deleted? Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Slams EC Over SIR
Professor Mohammad Salim Engineer claims 13 crore names removed from electoral rolls via SIR, questioning Election Commission's impartiality.
In a scathing critique of the electoral process, Professor Mohammad Salim Engineer, the Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, has raised a red flag over the SIR voter deletions, claiming that the integrity of Indian democracy is at stake. Speaking at a press conference, the Professor expressed grave concerns over the Simplified Integrated Roll (SIR) process, which he alleges has led to the mass removal of citizens from the electoral rolls.
A Crisis of Confidence in the Election Commission
The core of the controversy lies in the sheer scale of the deletions. According to Professor Salim Engineer, approximately 130 million (13 crore) people have had their names stripped from the voter lists due to the SIR process. This massive disenfranchisement, he argues, has cast a dark shadow over the impartiality of the Election Commission.
With five assembly elections looming on the horizon, the Vice President noted that there is a palpable sense of anxiety among the general public. He warned that when millions of citizens find themselves unable to vote, the very foundations of the democratic system are undermined.
Concerns Over Upcoming Assembly Polls
The timing of these deletions has added to the urgency of the matter. Professor Salim Engineer emphasized that the lack of transparency and the scale of the removals make it incredibly difficult for the public to maintain faith in the integrity of next year's assembly elections.
"The impartiality of the Election Commission has come into question," the Vice President stated, suggesting that the current trajectory could lead to a total erosion of public trust in the electoral machinery.
Broader Critiques of the Central Government
While the SIR voter deletions were the primary focus of his address, Professor Salim Engineer did not stop there. He used the platform to launch a broader critique of the central government, citing several critical issues that require immediate attention:
- Manipur Violence: The Vice President expressed strong disapproval regarding the government's handling of the unrest in Manipur.
- The Azam Khan Case: He raised concerns regarding the legal and political proceedings surrounding Azam Khan.
By linking these issues, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind leader painted a picture of a systemic failure in governance and administrative fairness, calling for urgent corrective measures to ensure that every eligible citizen can exercise their fundamental right to vote.