'Supreme Court is now raising questions': Omar Abdullah on Voter Deletion
J&K CM Omar Abdullah supports INDIA Bloc protest against Election Commission over alleged voter roll deletions and Supreme Court intervention.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has come out in strong support of the INDIA Bloc's ongoing protests against the Election Commission. The Chief Minister voiced serious concerns regarding the recent electoral roll revision process, specifically alleging the widespread deletion of voters' names from the lists.
INDIA Bloc to Intensify Protests
Speaking on Tuesday, Omar Abdullah revealed that the opposition alliance has developed a strategic "calendar of action" to hold the poll panel accountable. This movement began with a significant march by MPs toward the Election Commission in New Delhi.
"In the INDIA Bloc meeting convened in the past few days, a calendar was prepared. It began with the MPs' march to the Election Commission, and this will go on," Abdullah stated, signaling that the opposition intends to maintain momentum in their campaign.
Supreme Court Intervention
A key highlight of the Chief Minister's remarks was the growing judicial interest in the matter. While previous attempts to highlight irregularities in the electoral rolls had received limited attention, Abdullah noted a significant shift in the legal landscape.
"It had been advocated earlier, but only few heard. The Supreme Court is now raising questions over the deletion of votes," the J&K Chief Minister remarked. He added that the opposition will closely monitor the judicial proceedings to see how the highest court addresses these grievances.
The Core of the Controversy
The current political storm stems from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The controversy intensified following reports suggesting internal disagreements within the Election Commission. Specifically, reports indicated that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had raised 14 objections during the SIR exercise, despite the Commission's official stance that all decisions were made unanimously.
The opposition has raised further questions regarding the modification of Form 6, which is used for enrolling new voters. This comes on the heels of a recent Supreme Court observation stating that the court had not approved any modified version of Form 6 for use during the SIR exercise.
The 'Save Democracy' Campaign
The protests are not isolated incidents but part of a broader "Save Democracy" campaign launched by the opposition. Through this initiative, leaders from various INDIA Bloc parties are conducting demonstrations and public programs aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability within the electoral process.