Owaisi terms SIR a "backdoor NRC", questions ECI amid political row
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleges the Special Intensive Revision is a backdoor NRC and raises concerns over internal discord within the ECI.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has launched a scathing attack on the authorities, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is nothing more than a backdoor NRC. Speaking in Hyderabad, the leader expressed deep concern over the electoral process and raised serious questions regarding the internal functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Allegations of a "Backdoor NRC"
Owaisi asserted that the current electoral revision process is a precursor to a full-scale National Register of Citizens (NRC). He pointed toward the Home Minister's decision to appoint a commission, led by a retired Supreme Court judge, to examine demographic shifts in areas where final NRC lists have been published, as evidence of this intent.
"So, what does that imply? It proves our point that this is a backdoor NRC; sooner or later, this government will implement the NRC and use this process as the foundation," Owaisi remarked. He warned that citizens might soon find themselves standing in lines again, forced to produce documents to prove their identity.
Constituency Struggles and Form 6 Dilemmas
The AIMIM leader highlighted the hardships faced by residents in his constituency due to missing names in the electoral lists. He noted that even when citizens provide proof linking them to their ancestors, their names are often absent from the drafts.
Owaisi raised concerns regarding the complexities of the 'Form 6' application process, specifically the requirement for certain declarations. He questioned the legal authority of the Commission to alter such forms, noting that previous Election Commissioners had stated that such changes would require legislative amendments rather than mere administrative decisions.
Questions over ECI Coordination
The controversy has intensified following reports suggesting significant internal disagreement within the Election Commission. Reports indicated that two of the three Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had reportedly raised objections on at least 14 occasions over the last ten months regarding orders issued without their knowledge.
Owaisi questioned how the Commission could claim to reach unanimous decisions when such dissent exists. "If even within the Election Commission itself, someone is unaware—if someone inside the Commission doesn't know how things are being handled—then tell me what kind of message are we sending to the country?" he asked.
ECI Response
In response to the allegations, the Election Commission of India clarified that all decisions regarding the Special Intensive Revision schedule were made with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The ECI further clarified that a recent letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary pertained to the functioning of an officer on deputation and did not involve any policy matters of the poll body.