New Delhi: The INDIA bloc partners on Wednesday dubbed the special intensive revision of voter rolls in Bihar as day light ‘dacoity’ (robbery) and accused the government of not holding the discussion on the same in Parliament.
Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge along with the members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners addressed a press conference at Vijay Chowk outside Parliament and targeted the government for not holding a detailed discussion on the SIR exercise.
Speaking to media, Kharge said that INDIA bloc parties are united in demanding a discussion in Parliament on the voter roll revision exercise in Bihar as it is important to protect the voting rights of all Indians.
He also pointed out that minorities, Dalits and tribals are facing the risk of losing their voting rights.
“INDIA bloc parties want discussion in Parliament on SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar but government is unwilling to do it,” he alleged.
He also said that the opposition parties have been urging the speaker, chairman and the government again and again that the voting rights of people should not be stolen….
“That is what is happening in the SIR exercise,” he alleged.
While referring to the statements from the government and Chair and Speaker in both the Houses of Parliament that the functioning of the Election Commission cannot be discussed in Parliament as it is an independent constitutional body.
He said: “Everything under the sun can be discussed.”
“We want to have a discussion on it… They are in a way trying to cast doubt on the citizenship of individuals,” he said.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said they will continue protests inside and outside Parliament over the SIR issue.
Ghose also raised concerns over “attacks” on Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states and asserted that BJP is insulting Bengal and the Bengali language.
She said a march will be taken out to the EC office from Parliament on August 11 by the INDIA bloc parties.
DMK’s Tiruchi Siva also said that
Parliament is not functioning for whole of session beside the discussion on Operation Sindoor.
“We are insisting for a debate on SIR. On what basis the EC on the terms of revising rhe voter rolls are deleting the voters,” he asked.
Asking for some documents that are not necessary and proof of citizenship, which is not in the perview of the Commission but under MHA, Siva said.
The DMK leader targeting the government said, “We are not disrupting the House, we are insisting for discussion. We are not undemocratic, we are fighting for the rights of citizens.”
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Manoj Jha alleged that through the SIR, day light dacoity is taking place in Bihar.
He said, “In Parliament SIR should have been discussed. This is a day light dacoity (robbery)”.
He also added that the Supreme Court directed the EC to include Aadhar, ration card, but they didn’t use that.
The press conference was also addressed by the Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, NCP-SP, CPI, CPI-ML, CPI-M, IUML and AAP among others.
Earlier in the day, INDIA bloc partners had held a protest in Parliament over the issue which was also joined by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others.
The Parliament has witnessed a stormy session with multiple adjournments in last 13 days over the issue of SIR in Bihar.
