Now in Punjab also, the ‘Special Intensive Revision’ (SIR) process of the voter list is being conducted before the assembly elections. However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has complained to the Election Commission against alleged irregularities during the ongoing SIR in the state. BJP has accused the Bhagwant Mann government of promoting government schemes and collecting data in the name of SIR.
BJP said in its complaint to the Election Commission that government schemes are being promoted under the guise of SIR. The party has demanded an investigation into the allegations of asking for unauthorized documents from voters and promoting government schemes.
BJP expressed concern over illegal activities
State President of the party in Punjab, Kewal Singh Dhillon has sent an urgent memorandum to the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer of the state, expressing serious concern over the alleged illegal activities being carried out by some government officials and BLOs during the SIR campaign. The party has demanded the Election Commission to immediately intervene in this matter and issue necessary corrective instructions.
In the letter sent by Dhillon, it has been alleged that some officers posted on election duty in different parts of the state are collecting data related to different schemes of the Punjab government under the guise of SIR and are motivating people to take benefits of these schemes.
‘Even BLO is asking for unnecessary documents’
The party clarified that such activities are completely contrary to the purpose of the Election Commission’s process and are illegal. Apart from this, at many places Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are even asking for non-authorized documents like registered rent deed or landlord’s affidavit from tenant voters, whereas there is no such requirement in the instructions of the Election Commission. Due to these unreasonable demands, common voters are facing a lot of trouble and this essential election process is becoming unnecessarily complicated.
BJP has also placed many important demands before the Election Commission regarding this serious matter. The party has demanded that strict disciplinary action should be taken by initiating an immediate investigation against the officials who go beyond the prescribed rules and collect data and publicize government schemes. Also, the arbitrariness of BLOs asking for non-authorized documents from tenants should be stopped.
Demand for strict instructions on DEO-BLO
The party has also requested the Election Commission to issue clear and strict instructions to all District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and BLOs that no additional documents should be asked from voters apart from the prescribed rules.
The BJP state president stressed that this matter is related to public interest and the credibility of the electoral process. Therefore, it should be ensured that the work of ‘Special Intensive Revision’ is completed in a completely fair, transparent, voter-friendly and time-bound manner.
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