बिहार SIR विवाद: कांग्रेस की चुनाव आयोग से मांग, आरजेडी-भाकपा का समर्थन

Swift Summary

• congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi urged the Election Commission (EC) to halt the intensive special voter list revision campaign in Bihar, questioning its validity.
• Leaders from RJD, CPI(M), and CPI(ML) Liberation also criticized the EC’s efforts during a joint press conference in Delhi.
• Singhvi alleged that the campaign had turned into a “citizenship test,” questioning if the EC has authority to verify citizenship. He suggested postponing this process until after elections instead of rushing it.
• The secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation claimed over 65 lakh voter names might be deleted and described EC’s statements as self-congratulatory and misleading.
• RJD’s Manoj Jha labeled this initiative as India’s largest-ever attempt to deny voting rights post-Independence, criticizing the lack of consultation with political parties.
• CPM leader Nilotpal Basu argued that this review undermines democratic inclusivity by possibly disenfranchising marginalized populations.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The concerns raised over Bihar’s voter list scrutiny highlight essential issues about electoral integrity versus inclusivity in India’s democracy. While ensuring voter lists are accurate is vital for fair elections, critics allege that linking such revisions to citizenship criteria raises questions around disenfranchisement risks for vulnerable communities like poor or rural residents who may lack documentation clarity-making them unintended victims of procedural rigidity. Neutral opinions would suggest balancing integrity measures with stakeholder consultations across political lines could strengthen democratic trust without alienating citizens from their electoral rights.

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