SIR: BJP workers file more than five lakh complaints, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says
He said he did this through video conferencing and asked BJP workers to file complaints during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise.
The special revision process of electoral rolls is ongoing in Assam. The Congress had earlier alleged that Form 7 was being submitted in batches under the SIR of electoral rolls in Assam without providing any specific reason and details and sought the intervention of the chief electoral officer in the matter.
Form 7 is used to object to the addition of a name to the voter list or the deletion of one’s own or someone else’s name.
While talking to media persons on Wednesday, Sarma said: “It is a known fact that there are Bangladeshi Miyas in Assam. Has anyone received any notification in Thowra or Dimou, no one has received any notification. If Bangladeshi Miyas do not receive notification in SR, it will mean that there are no foreigners in Assam.”
“This is why the BJP workers, who they suspected of being foreigners, filed a complaint. The Election Commission will decide on the complaint. If we do not file a complaint today and tomorrow someone says there are foreigners here, questions will arise as to why no complaint was made during the SR exercise.”
Sarma said, “It is the responsibility of the people to file a complaint under SR. It is not only the responsibility of the BJP to file a complaint, it should have come from other political parties and organizations as well, but no complaint was received from them.”
Sarma said he asked the BJP workers to fill the collective form 7 against Miyas. He said he did this through video conferencing and asked BJP workers to file complaints during the ongoing Special Revision exercise.
Miya’ is a derogatory term used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam whose ancestral roots are in Bangladesh.
SR implementation is slightly different from SIR, which is a more comprehensive process. Under SR, the focus is mainly on voter inclusion and an existing voter’s name remains on the list unless a specific objection is raised against him or her. The final voter roll is planned to be published on February 10.
Sarma said, “We will finalize seat sharing with our allies by February 15-20. A survey will be conducted in the BJP before giving tickets. We take feedback from each booth and then the necessary process goes to the Central parliamentary committee.”
“The tally of 50 candidates for 50 seats is almost ready. These are seats where there is almost no single candidate and if there is more support, I will talk to them,” Sarma said.
Please add Sarma, “We have to disturb Miyas, if the rickshaw fare is 5 Rupees, pay them 4 Rupees and put them in trouble. They will move from here like this.”
