Stop the SIR in Andhra Pradesh immediately
The round table meeting held at M. B. Vijnana Kendram, Vijayawada, unanimously demanded that the state and central governments stop the programme of Special Intensive Revision of the voters list in Andhra Pradesh. All the participants expressed serious concern about the programme.
According to the Peoples Representation Act, without issuing any notification to the public, it is illegal and anti-Constitutional for the official machinery to make preparations for the SIR up to the polling booth level. As there is already a case pending in the Supreme Court against implementation of the SIR, how is the government of Andhra Pradesh proceeding with it? The participants expressed their shock and dismay. Is the government not bound by the Constitution? The meeting also noted that the Election Commission did not mention Andhra Pradesh in the notification issued for the second stage of the SIR programme; why then is the state government in a hurry to implement it. It is completely illegal and against the Constitution.
In the meeting with political parties earlier, the Election Commission expressly stated that the SIR programme will not be taken up in the near future in the state. But surprisingly the Chief secretary gave orders for making preparations even at the polling booth level. The participants also noted that in Bihar, where the SIR has been implemented, around 65 lakh voters’ names were removed from the voters list. In the recently held Bihar Assembly elections, the opposition parties lost due to this in 75 assembly constituencies. The participants expressed their anguish that the Election Commission is dancing to the tune of Modi to ensure that the NDA is elected. Further they felt our great nation is being taken in the direction of dictatorial rule like the military rule in Pakistan.
The round table meeting was organised by the CPI(M) Andhra Pradesh State Committee. The meeting was chaired by Com. V. Srinivasarao, Secretaryof the Andhra Pradesh State Committee.
The meeting demanded the state government immediately convene an all political parties meeting on the important issue of SIR. It was also decided to give a memorandum to the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, with signatures of all the speakers at the meeting, to demand that the SIR programme be stopped in the state.
Sri Jagadish, state secretariat member of the CPI, said that the BJP, which is in power at the centre, is diluting all Constitutional institutions and making a mockery of the law.
The round table meeting was attended by former minister Sri Sailajanath of the YSR Congress, who said that the SIR will deny voting rights to the poor and oppressed sections. While speaking on the occasion, Sri Chalasani Srinivas, President of Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi, said that the Election Commission has become a Modi-Shah Commission and all must come forward to condemn its decision on the SIR project.
Sri Jada Sravan Kumar, Jai Bhim party, Sri Bangarao, CPI(ML), Sri Janakiramulu, RSP, AAP leader Sri Neti Mahesvararao, MCPIU leader Sri Bhasha spoke along with leaders of other political parties and representatives of mass organisations.
