Address concerns over voters’ list revision: Punjab CM Mann to EC

Chandigarh: Claiming nationwide objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters' list, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday asked the Election Commission (EC) to address these concerns.Replying to a question, Mann told mediapersons, "Objections have been raised across the country... The Election Commission should at least respond to these issues. The EC is asking for proof. If objections have been raised, it is their responsibility to provide a response. Why are they demanding proof?" Responding to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's plan to include wildlife and waterlogging crop damage under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, CM Mann pointed out that the scheme is run by private firms and challenged authorities to review the records to show "how much compensation has been provided to farmers". Mann also questioned the Centre regarding the Rs 1,600 crore package announced for flood relief, saying, "They used to refer to it as token money and promised more would follow, but they should first disburse this token amount." After the devastating floods in the state in August-September, the Centre announced financial aid of Rs 1,600 crore, which the state govt claimed has not been completely provided. The SIR of electoral rolls, an exercise initiated by the EC requiring a massive re-verification of all voters, has become a major national political flashpoint, with several opposition parties raising serious concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement. AAP leaders accused the EC of acting with a lack of transparency and being politically biased, alleging that the SIR is a systematic attempt to manipulate the electoral demography to favour the ruling party through large-scale, politically motivated deletions. MSID:: 125487692 413 |

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