Minister Azharuddin Alleges Minority Voter Deletion in Telangana
Minister Mohammad Azharuddin demands ECI Chief's resignation over allegations that Form 7 is being misused to delete minority voters in Telangana.
Telangana Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin has raised serious allegations regarding the systematic deletion of minority voters from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The Minister claimed that Form 7 is being misused to target specific communities, sparking a political storm in the state.
Allegations of Misuse in Musheerabad
Speaking to the media, Azharuddin highlighted specific incidents in the Musheerabad Assembly constituency. He noted that allegations have surfaced regarding the misuse of Form 7 applications to remove the names of numerous minority voters from the official lists.
The situation in Musheerabad reportedly escalated to the point where booth-level agents were taken into custody. "It is alleged that applications were submitted to delete the names of more than 30 members. I believe strict action should be taken in this matter," the Minister stated.
Demand for Chief Election Commissioner's Resignation
The Minister did not stop at local grievances, directing his criticism toward the leadership of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Azharuddin demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that significant errors have emerged under his tenure.
The Minister expressed deep concern that if the current leadership remains in place, the trend of deleting minority votes will continue on a massive scale. He cited figures suggesting that over 13 crore votes have been deleted, a number he fears could grow even higher if the current processes are not corrected. "If he is making mistakes repeatedly and if he and his team are not accepting or paying heed to suggestions, then it is a serious problem," Azharuddin remarked.
AIMIM Calls for Extension Amidst Mass Notices
The controversy has also drawn strong reactions from AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi. During a visit to SIR centres in the Karwan constituency in Hyderabad, Owaisi reported that a staggering 100,223 people in that constituency alone had received notices. He further alleged that individuals with six or more children were being specifically targeted with these notices.
While the Election Commission recently granted a 21-day extension for filing claims and objections, Owaisi argued that this timeframe is insufficient. He has demanded that the period be extended by at least another four weeks to allow voters to rectify their status.
According to the revised schedule from the Election Commission, the claims and objections period is set to conclude on October 7, with the final electoral rolls scheduled for publication on November 9.