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Knews Desk- The process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list is going on in many states of the country. This campaign is being run by the Election Commission for verification and correction of the voter list. However, the party has raised many questions regarding this process going on in the states where there is no BJP government. BJP alleges that in some states the rules of SIR are not being followed properly and in its name, efforts are being made to promote government schemes or collect data in an unauthorized manner.

At present the process of SIR is going on in states like Punjab, Karnataka and Telangana. BJP is not in power in these three states. The party has also complained to the Election Commission regarding the ongoing process in these states and has raised the demand for conducting SIR in a fair manner.

BJP accused of promoting government schemes in Punjab

There is Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab and assembly elections are to be held here after some time. In such a situation, political activities regarding SIR have intensified. The Punjab unit of BJP has alleged that under the guise of SIR, state government schemes are being publicized and unnecessary information is being sought from the people.

In the complaint sent to the Election Commission, BJP said that information to various schemes of Punjab government is being collected by some election officials during SIR. The party alleges that people are also being motivated to take benefits of government schemes. Apart from this, BJP claimed that at many places Booth Level Officers (BLO) are asking for documents like rent agreement or landlord’s affidavit from tenant voters, whereas these documents are not included in the mandatory list. The party has demanded the Election Commission to stop such activities and give clear instructions to the officials.

Allegation of no door-to-door verification in Karnataka

In Karnataka too, BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) have raised questions regarding the SIR process. Both parties allege that door-to-door voter verification is not being done as per the instructions of the Election Commission in the state. Opposition parties say that at many places people are being called to community buildings, mosques and BLO houses to fill the enumeration forms. BJP has called it a violation of the Election Commission’s guidelines.

BJP and JDS also alleged that WhatsApp groups have been formed to call voters to such places. He says that this raises questions on the transparency of the SIR process. Union ministers Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karandlaje and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy have sent a complaint to the Election Commission in this regard. At the same time, the Karnataka government has rejected these allegations and said that there is no interference of the government in the SIR process and the Election Commission is working independently.

BJP raised questions in Telangana also

Even in Congress-ruled Telangana, BJP has made allegations regarding the SIR process. The party says that the state government is interfering in the election process and door-to-door verification is not being done by BLOs. Telangana BJP President N. Ramachander Rao has demanded that BLO should visit every voter’s house and do verification. If a voter is not found at home, officials should try again. BJP alleged that at some places in the old city of Hyderabad, SIR forms were being distributed through camps set up by political leaders instead of door-to-door distribution. The party has called it against the fairness of the process.

BJP leaders have also raised the issue of alleged irregularities in the voter list and demanded additional time for the SIR process. Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) has also demanded extension of the deadline for the process. However, the Election Commission and the concerned state governments are continuously saying that the SIR process is being conducted as per the prescribed rules. Whereas BJP says that it is only demanding verification of voter list in a fair and transparent manner.