Withdraw SIR Meant to Intimidate People, Says Dipankar Bhattacharya

Fast Summary

• CPI-(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya called for the immediate withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and demanded Assembly elections in 2025 be conducted using the 2024 voter list.
• He questioned allegations made by the Election Commission (EC) regarding foreign nationals (Bangladeshi, Nepali, or Burmese origin) appearing in voter rolls, citing lack of evidence from prior election records.
• Bhattacharya alleged migrant laborers and Muslims were being misidentified as non-citizens based on their language or dialect.
• He criticized the ongoing SIR process, claiming it has created an atmosphere of terror among voters and accused authorities of harassment against Booth Level Officers (BLOs). One BLO reportedly died due to stress; another Block Advancement Officer resigned over alleged harassment.
• Bhattacharya accused Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) of unauthorized decisions when voters failed to submit required documents.He expressed concerns about a chaotic voter registration process undermining constitutional rights.
• The CPI-(ML) leader emphasized peaceful elections without discrimination for Bihar’s residents.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The core issue highlighted by dipankar Bhattacharya revolves around trust in electoral processes and safeguarding democratic participation. His criticism of the Special Intensive revision reflects broader concerns that arbitrary disqualification of voters risks disenfranchisement – particularly affecting marginalized communities such as migrant laborers,minorities,or those lacking formal documentation. such allegations demand careful scrutiny since electoral integrity is foundational to democracy.

The reported difficulties faced by Booth Level Officers underscore operational challenges within SIR implementation that may require systemic review at all levels to protect both officials’ welfare and public confidence. Moreover, claims regarding linguistic profiling or targeting specific communities raise ethical questions about inclusivity within governance frameworks.

Resolving discrepancies through transparent dialogues involving political representatives, EC officials, and local stakeholders could help address these issues while ensuring peaceful state elections are preserved as per constitutional safeguards.

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