'Won't tolerate Form 7 misuse': Owaisi warns of massive Hyderabad protests
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleges false Form 7 applications are being used to exclude Muslim voters and warns of massive protests in Hyderabad.
AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has issued a stern warning, threatening large-scale street protests in Hyderabad if the misuse of Form 7 continues during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing a gathering at the 57th 'Jalsa-e-Milad-un-Nabi' at Milad Maidan on Saturday, the leader alleged that false objections are being filed to target and exclude Muslim voters from the electoral process.
Allegations of Targeted Voter Deletion
Owaisi raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the voter registration process, specifically pointing toward the submission of fraudulent Form 7 applications. Form 7 is the official mechanism used to raise objections to a name's inclusion in the electoral roll or to request the deletion of an entry based on specific grounds.
The AIMIM chief alleged that certain groups, specifically naming the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, are exploiting this process. He highlighted a specific pattern of irregularity in the submissions:
- Anonymous Objections: Owaisi claimed that printed Form 7 applications are being submitted that list the names of individuals targeted for deletion.
- Missing Details: He alleged that while the names of the victims are clearly mentioned, the identity and details of the individuals filing these objections are being intentionally withheld.
- Systemic Misuse: He described this practice as "completely wrong" and a deliberate attempt to manipulate the final electoral rolls.
"Protests bigger than Jantar Mantar"
The Hyderabad MP did not mince words when addressing the potential consequences of continued irregularities. He issued a direct appeal to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take immediate punitive action against those responsible for filing false applications.
"If this drama does not stop, remember: protests bigger than those at Delhi's Jantar Mantar will take place on the roads and streets of Hyderabad, and it will create a lot of trouble for you," Owaisi warned, adding that the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen would not remain silent in the face of such actions.
He further stated that his party has already formally notified the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana and the various District Electoral Officers regarding these grievances.
SIR Labeled a "Backdoor NRC"
The controversy extends beyond the immediate misuse of forms. Owaisi has been a vocal critic of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) itself, characterizing the entire exercise as a "backdoor NRC."
During a press conference held earlier in the week, he argued that the BJP intends to use the SIR as a precursor to a National Register of Citizens (NRC), effectively turning a voter list revision into a test of citizenship. He maintained that his party has consistently opposed the SIR and the current methods of selecting election commissioners, claiming that AIMIM has a history of leading such opposition in states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi.