The Congress party Saturday expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s order on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, while accusing the BJP of spreading disinformation and distorting facts.
Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi highlighted the party’s concerns, clarifying its stance.
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to accept Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, and ration cards as valid proof of identity, covering roughly 90 percent of the people who could be affected by the SIR condition of producing proof of citizenship, Singhvi said, accusing the BJP of spreading disinformation and distorting facts about the SC order and the Congress party’s stance on the SIR. “The BJP is spreading disinformation and distorting facts,” he said.
Singhvi, Singhvi who had raised several key points before the Supreme Court while representing the INDIA bloc parties on the SIR issue, clarified that the Congress party never pressed for a stay on the SIR, but rather sought a more practical and inclusive approach to the verification process.
Singhvi emphasized that the SIR exercise could disenfranchise approximately 2 crore voters out of around 4.9 crore voters registered after 2003, who may not have the necessary documents to prove citizenship.
Singhvi questioned the ECI’s jurisdiction to verify citizenship, stating that it was beyond their authority.
He also questioned the timing of the SIR, pointing out that it was being carried out just before the Bihar elections, which could cause difficulties for voters, particularly the marginalized and disadvantaged sections.
Highlighting the practical challenges faced by voters, especially laborers who migrate to different parts of the country during the monsoon season and may not be able to produce the required documents in time, Singhvi emphasized the importance of Aadhaar cards as a proof of identity, saying, “India lives on Aadhaar, from rations to rail, but for elections, it’s suddenly a fairy tale?”
Singhvi contended that the EC is overstepping its authority by determining citizenship through an administrative order without legislative backing.
“The Election Commission does not have the authority to examine the criterion of citizenship,” he emphasized.
Citing a Supreme Court judgment, Singhvi pointed out that voters who have been on the electoral roll for years cannot be removed without a judicial process. The EC’s actions, he argued, violate this principle.