New Delhi, October 3 (Daily Kiran) : Professor Salim Engineer, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, has voiced serious concerns regarding the removal of names from the voter list under the Special Identification Registration (SIR) process. He criticized the Election Commission of India, questioning the integrity and intentions behind the ongoing changes to the electoral roll.
Engineer highlighted that the SIR process began in Bihar, closely preceding elections, leading to a significant number of voters being disenfranchised. He noted that similar actions have been reported in other states, including West Bengal, raising alarms over the removal of numerous names from the voter lists.
The professor also referenced internal complaints within the Election Commission, suggesting that the failure to address grievances between two commission members casts doubt on the SIR process. He accused the commission of attempting to disenfranchise a large segment of the population, undermining their voting rights.
Regarding recent protests against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Engineer emphasized that citizens have the right to express dissent against government policies and decisions. He warned that suppressing this right could exacerbate existing issues.
Initially, protests took place at Jantar Mantar, but demonstrations have since spread across various regions of the country. Engineer asserted that over 130 million individuals have had their names unlawfully removed from the voter list, labeling this action a grave crime. He insisted that the Election Commission must ensure eligible citizens are included in the voter rolls to prevent any qualified person from being denied their right to vote.
Moreover, he raised concerns about the inclusion of certain individuals in the voter list, urging for an investigation into their eligibility and the processes behind their registration. Engineer called for transparency in the SIR process, stressing that the addition and removal of names must be conducted fairly to safeguard the voting rights of all eligible citizens.
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