'CEC Gyanesh Kumar has lost moral right to continue': Owaisi slams EC
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi calls the Special Information Revision a backdoor NRC and claims CEC Gyanesh Kumar has lost moral authority.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission (EC) and the central government on Sunday. During a press conference in Hyderabad, the AIMIM chief described the ongoing Special Information Revision (SIR) process as a "backdoor NRC," urging citizens to treat the voter verification exercise with extreme caution.
Allegations of Executive Control over EC
Owaisi raised serious concerns regarding the autonomy of the constitutional body. He pointed toward reports of internal dissent among Election Commission commissioners as evidence of instability within the poll body. He specifically targeted the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, stating that the internal objections have undermined his leadership.
"In light of the objections raised internally by the commissioners, the CEC has lost the moral right to continue in office," Owaisi remarked.
The AIMIM leader further criticized the recent legislative changes governing the appointment of election commissioners. He alleged that the new legal framework has effectively placed an autonomous constitutional institution under the complete control of the executive, designed to benefit the ruling party.
Warning to Citizens: "Don't lose your citizenship"
Highlighting the potential dangers of the SIR process, Owaisi warned that negligence during voter verification could have dire consequences beyond just losing the right to vote. He drew parallels between the current situation in Hyderabad and previous occurrences in Bihar.
Owaisi's advice to voters includes:
- Treat all SIR notices with the utmost seriousness.
- Appear at designated hearing centres with all necessary original documents.
- Actively file Form 6 if names of living relatives are incorrectly marked as deceased or shifted.
- Ensure names are not wrongly omitted from the electoral rolls.
"This is not just about losing your right to vote; you could also be deprived of your citizenship," he cautioned.
Caste Census and Political Alliances
Turning his attention to social data, Owaisi praised the approach taken by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's government in Telangana regarding the caste census. He described the Telangana model as "logical and concrete" for addressing demographic issues, suggesting it serves as a superior template for the rest of the country.
On the subject of national politics, Owaisi clarified his position regarding the INDIA bloc, stating he is not a member of the alliance. He questioned the opposition's ability to provide real solutions to the public despite their discussions on strategy. Addressing rumors that AIMIM's presence in certain regions might benefit the BJP, he dismissed the concerns and noted that any future political alliances would be made public through official channels.
Condemnation of Mosque Demolition in Ujjain
Concluding his address, Owaisi condemned the local administration's move to demolish a 600-year-old Shahi Masjid in Ujjain. He expressed his respect for the local citizens who engaged in Gandhian-style protests to protect the historic structure, stating that such demolitions should not be permitted.