PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The leader of opposition (LoP) in the Vidhan Sabha, Yashpal Arya has claimed that names of a large number of voters are being deleted from the voter lists of many Assembly constituencies by using form VII as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative. In a statement on Tuesday, Arya said that a large number of suspicious objections filed through form-VII for deletion of names of voters in many Assembly constituencies is a well-planned attack on democracy.
The LoP claimed that an online review of form-X on Monday, revealed that form-VII were submitted to remove the names of 93 voters in Bazpur Assembly constituency. He said that similar complaints have emerged from other Assembly constituencies across the State. “At first glance, this appears to be a conspiracy by an organized gang or a well-planned network aimed at depriving eligible voters of their constitutional right to vote and influencing the electoral process. If such attempts are being made to remove the names of thousands of voters based on such false objections, it is not merely a matter of administrative negligence but a direct attack on the very roots of democracy,’’ he said.
Arya added that the State government should clarify under whose patronage this organized act of deletion of names is underway in the State.
The LoP said that he has written a letter to the chief electoral officer (CEO) Uttarakhand demanding that immediate instructions be issued to all the electoral registration officers (EROs) of the State to identify the elements involved in this fraudulent and malicious act. He demanded strict action against such people under the election laws.
Arya said that the Congress party is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of every voter in the State and warned that if no action against the culprits is not taken the Congress will be forced to launch a massive public movement across the State to save democracy.
