Election Commission's Role in Voter List Purification Defended Amidst Controversy

Union Minister JP Nadda defended the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), emphasizing its constitutional duty to update electoral rolls. Responding to criticisms of alleged rigging during SIR, he highlighted its historical significance and denounced opposition claims, asserting its necessity due to a decade without voter deletions.

Union Minister JP Nadda robustly defended the Election Commission's constitutional duty to conduct Special Intensive Revisions (SIR) of electoral rolls during a session in the Rajya Sabha. Nadda emphasized the revision's importance in maintaining accurate voter lists, ensuring no legitimate voter is excluded and no ineligible name is included.

Responding to a heated debate on election reforms, Nadda criticized the opposition, particularly the Congress, for alleging widespread rigging during SIR. He highlighted that allegations against the Election Commission often arose when political interests were threatened.

Nadda traced SIR's historical roots, aligning it with the democratic processes since India's independence and underscored its nonpartisan nature, thus countering opposition claims of government manipulation.

(With inputs from agencies.)