New Delhi, Sep 22 — Delhi minister Parvesh Verma has explained the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the national Capital, saying notices are being issued to voters where discrepancies are found in their electoral records or where their details cannot be linked with the previous electoral roll and that voters can respond to the Electoral Registration Officer.
Verma said the process was straightforward and urged voters not to be concerned about the issuance of notices.
“The SIR process is going on in Delhi. Those people whose voter list or their signature leaves any path, they are issued a notice by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the Election Commission. In that notice, if there is a deficiency in any document, they are asked about it,” he said.
Calling it “a very simple process,” Verma said the exercise had nevertheless become a subject of political debate, with the Aam Aadmi Party, Opposition parties and organisations questioning the process.
“But again and again, AAP, the Opposition and the social service organisations associated with them are raising questions on this,” he said.
Verma pointed out that notices had also been issued to prominent voters, arguing that the process was not based on a person’s political or social standing. “You must have seen that whether there is a common man in Delhi or a VVIP in Delhi, all of them have been issued such notices,” he said.
He added that the Election Commission does not distinguish between voters while issuing notices. “If they are not found at home or if there is a deficiency in their documents, then I would like to say that the work done by the Election Commission is completely transparent and impartial. It does not look at the name of the person to whom it is sending the notice.”
According to Verma, voters who receive notices are given an opportunity to submit documents and explain their cases before the ERO. The Election Commission has similarly clarified that electors can submit replies and requisite documents, and that notices do not automatically result in deletion from the rolls.
“If there is a deficiency in any document, the notice is sent to that person. And if any citizen or voter feels that his name is being removed from the SIR process, then he is given a chance to complete his document and give an answer to the notice,” Verma said.
Verma further appealed to political parties and organisations to avoid creating doubts among voters about the Election Commission. “Please do not put people in such a situation that they lose their faith in the Election Commission,” he said.
He also criticised former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, the Congress and NGOs questioning the SIR exercise, alleging that they repeatedly raise questions over elections and the electoral process.
"Now that the SIR process has taken place, they are raising questions on that,” Verma said.