Owaisi calls SIR "backdoor NRC", says voter list could be used for NRC implementation
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi warns that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is a precursor to implementing the NRC.
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has launched a scathing attack on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, labeling the process a "backdoor NRC." He warned that this exercise is being designed to serve as the foundational data for the eventual implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the country.
The "Backdoor NRC" Warning
Speaking to the media, Owaisi expressed deep concern that the government is laying the groundwork for a massive documentation exercise that will target citizens. He suggested that the current revision is not merely an administrative update but a strategic move.
"It proves our point that this is a backdoor NRC; sooner or later, this government will implement the NRC and use this very voter list as the basis," Owaisi stated. He cautioned citizens that they might soon find themselves standing in lines once again, forced to produce various documents to prove their identity.
The MP highlighted the immediate impact of the current process, noting that even in his own constituency, many individuals are facing extreme hardships because their names have been omitted from the rolls.
Political Unrest Over Election Commission
Owaisi's comments come amidst a growing storm regarding the functioning of the Election Commission. The controversy was fueled by reports suggesting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period regarding decisions related to the SIR exercise.
While the Opposition is debating how to present a united front, Owaisi remained cautious about formal alliances, stating that the decision to stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" with other parties would be determined in the future.
Opposition Parties Demand Action
The political temperature is rising as various leaders demand the scrapping of the SIR process:
- Mamata Banerjee: The TMC supremo has demanded the removal of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the SIR exercise is being used to target West Bengal. She called for the use of old voter lists and compensation for those whose names were removed.
- Rahul Gandhi: The Congress leader has leveled serious allegations against Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of "match-fixing elections." Gandhi cited reports suggesting that the official had previously approached a former Kerala Chief Secretary to contest on a BJP ticket.
- CPI(M): General Secretary MA Baby has called for a broader movement, reaching out to parties even beyond the INDIA bloc to challenge the Election Commission's functioning.
As tensions escalate, members of the INDIA bloc are expected to meet on September 30 to discuss a coordinated response to the SIR exercise and the ongoing controversies surrounding the Election Commission.