Oppn to hold protests across state against poll roll revision
PATNA, July 5 -- The Opposition INDIA bloc constituents would stage demonstrations, sit-ins and also disrupt vehicular traffic across the state to protest against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged difficulties being faced by electors to provide documents to establish one's date of birth/ place of birth under the exercise, said leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Friday.
"There will be mass demonstrations and chakka jam (disruption of vehicular movement) on July 9 across the state to protest the SIR, which is a deep conspiracy by the BJP , PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to deprive millions of voters' in Bihar from exercising their franchise in forthcoming polls. We will protest this aggressively," Yadav said, while interacting with people through a social media platform.
Yadav, who along with representatives of the INDIA bloc, met the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar to raise concerns related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), said he had urged the central poll panel to allow documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and job cards issued under the MGNREGA scheme as valid alternatives to establish an elector's date of birth and/or place of birth during the submission of pre-enumeration forms.
"People in general in Bihar do not have any of the 11 documents prescribed by the EC under SIR. Be it Nalanda, Raghopur or other places, people are saying they have only aadhaar card or ration card or job cards. At present, Bihar is already witnessing monsoon and rivers would go in spate. Would people now run to make documents or save one's life. Besides, around 4.5 crore Biharis live outside the state for job. If they do not have the right documents, they have to come to the state to procure them. Is it possible that such big number would come to their state in such short time," asked Yadav
Asserting that the exercise had made poor, EBCs, dalits and marginalised sections apprehensive of losing voting right incase they are unable to provide any one of the 11 documents to prove being citizens and also ordinary resident of the state, Yadav asked as to why the ECI had not allowed aadhaar as document of proof though just months ago, the identity card was being used as a proof to get a voter I card. " Even my wife, who is a resident of Delhi, had got her voter I card by furnishing aadhar card just two months back. Now, I am myself confused as what new documents would be required for her to establish her presence in Bihar .. I fail to understand what happened in just months that EC has now made aadhar card non-admissible as proof," Yadav said.
"I ask the central government to clarify what would happen if a voter does not find his name in the updated list after SIR. If he is disenfranchised, he would lose his .her ration card, pension and other benefits from the government, This needs to be clarified as it is lurking in the minds of millions of voters in the state," Yadav said.
Asserting that a large number of voters in Patna and in rural areas of the state have not received pre-filled enumeration forms despite only 22 days left for the SIR to conclude, Yadav asked why only Biharis in the country were being forced to prove their citizenship.
"Why is Bihar being targeted and its people being forced to prove their citizenship. This is why, we get a smell of conspiracy hatched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah to deprive the poor of the state from voting," he said.
The opposition leader also demanded that EC should issue a daily bulletin as to how many voters have been given forms and how many voters have submitted documents and other details of the SIR.
RJD's National Executive Meeting held: The RJD held its national executive meeting in a private hotel in Patna on Friday in which discussions were held on the SIR and a decision was taken to oppose the exercise. RJD chief Lalu Prasad, former chief minister Rabri Devi , opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and a large number of RJD's top leaders attended the meeting where the agenda for national council meeting on July 5th was taken.
On Saturday, the RJD would hold its national council meeting where a formal announcement of RJD chief being elected as party's national president for the 13th term would be made. Lalu was elected unopposed recently during the organisational polls.
Several resolutions on political, economic affairs were passed at the national executive meeting. The proposals placed at the meeting would be discussed and approved during the national council meeting.
The opposition leader Tejashwi said that people in large numbers would attend RJD's open session and national council meeting on Saturday....
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