ECI creating 'non-voting citizens' category: Chidambaram on citizenship verification
What's the story
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram has slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He accused the ECI of creating a new category of "non-voting citizens." His comments came after former Indian envoy to the UAE, Navdeep Suri, raised concerns about his own citizenship verification experience during the SIR in Punjab.
Verification issues
If I have trouble, what's common citizen's fate? Suri
Suri, who has served as India's former Ambassador to Egypt and UAE and former High Commissioner to Australia, said his details didn't match the 2003 electoral rolls used for verification.
He was posted in London at that time and didn't participate in that revision.
"If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what's the fate of the common citizen?" he asked.
Voting rights
Chidambaram slams ECI over SIR process
Chidambaram echoed Suri's concerns, saying that by the end of the SIR process, nearly 10% of India's adult population, around 10 crore people, could be "citizens" but without voting rights.
He said this was a result of the ECI's actions.
"The ECI has created a new category of 'non-voting citizens,'" he wrote on X.
Official reassurance
Punjab CEO allays fears, advises citizens to check details
The Punjab Chief Electoral Officer has sought to allay fears of citizens receiving notices under the SIR process.
The CEO said that such notices are a part of the ongoing process and advised citizens to check details, submit required documents, and complete necessary procedures.
The draft electoral roll for Punjab was published on August 13 as part of this exercise.