Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday cited former Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to corner the government over the issue of Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, and said even the previous vice president had said that everything under this planet could be discussed in the House.
Addressing a joint press conference at Vijay Chowk here, Kharge said the INDIA bloc parties want a discussion on the special intensive revision of (SIR) electoral rolls in Bihar, but the government is unwilling.
“Everyone has been continuously asking the Speaker, Chairman and the Government in a very calm manner that our votes should not be stolen,” he said.
Referring to the government’s stand that the functioning of the Election Commission of India cannot be discussed in Parliament, Kharge cited Dhankhar’s statement that the House is entitled to discuss everything under this planet.
“On 21st July 2023, the then Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said that this house is entitled to discuss everything under the planet,” he said.
The Congress leader further claimed that votes of Dalits, tribals, MNREGA workers and minorities are being cut under the SIR exercise in Bihar.
“Whose votes are being cut? Minority votes are being cut, Dalit votes are being cut, tribal votes are being cut, MNREGA workers votes are being cut and the migrant workers are being deprived of their rights…,” he said.
Kharge pointed out that a complete discussion will rectify the mistakes and protest those who are losing their voting rights.
“We want that we get a break to discuss this and the irregularities in the voter list and the theft of votes. We want that if a complete discussion is held then wherever they have made mistakes and whatever they are doing in an unconstitutional manner, we can answer them, give suggestions and in the interest of the country, especially we can protect those voters who are losing their rights,” he added.
The Opposition’s INDIA bloc parties, including the Congress, are demanding a discussion on the Bihar SIR issue in both Houses of the Parliament. The Opposition has alleged discrepancies and ill intentions behind the exercise, claiming that over 65 Lakh voters are facing the danger of being disenfranchised.