New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) – Concerns have been raised about the 'Special Intensive Revision' of the electoral roll set to take place in Bihar, according to All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Member of Parliament Saket Gokhale, who claims it could seriously impact both voting rights and citizenship. On Friday, Gokhale posted on the social media platform X, warning that individuals unable to provide necessary documentation might be branded as "foreigners," with the loss of voting rights being just one of the many potential repercussions.
Gokhale accused the Modi government of eroding democratic rights by leveraging the Election Commission and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). He pointed out, "Yesterday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted a significant issue, posing risks not only to voting rights but also to citizenship itself."
The exercise requires individuals to furnish proof of birth and birthplace within a month: those born before July 1987 must provide this for themselves; individuals born between July 1987 to December 2004 must furnish proof for themselves and one parent; and those born after December 2004 must do so for themselves and both parents.
"Failure to provide these documents will result in the deletion of your name from the voter list," Gokhale stated. He added, "The ECI has begun this initiative with the upcoming Bihar elections and plans to extend it to West Bengal and other states post-December."
The AITC MP expressed grave concerns about this requirement, noting that a significant segment of the population in India, especially in rural areas, does not possess birth certificates — neither for themselves nor for their parents. "With many births occurring at home, obtaining birth certificates can be challenging. It's inconceivable for individuals to acquire these documents within just a month, risking disenfranchisement," he argued.
Gokhale asserted that the government's policy could potentially lead to individuals being mislabeled as "foreigners," emphasizing, "Beyond losing voting rights, the absence of these documents could lead the Modi administration to question and possibly revoke an individual's citizenship."
He further accused the government of utilizing the Election Commission to execute broad eliminations of legally eligible voters, aiming to cast doubt on their citizenship. Gokhale called for the Election Commission of India to reconsider its decision.
"The real agenda appears to be manipulating the electoral outcome in Bengal for the BJP and then applying this strategy nationwide. The Election Commission should be urged to reverse and annul this perilous and malevolent scheme that threatens both voter inclusion and citizenship," he concluded.
The Election Commission of India has instructed this revision in Bihar to eliminate ineligible entries and ensure the inclusion of eligible voters, thus enabling them to participate in the elections later this year.
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