2 hrs ago
Mumbai Protesters Demand SIR Rollback and Election Commissioner’s Resignation
About 120 people protested in Goregaon over changes to voter lists.
They opposed the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls.
They said some eligible voters may have been removed unfairly.
They also questioned whether Form 7 was used fraudulently to request deletions.
The protesters wanted removed names restored and asked for an investigation.
They also called for Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The government said the removed names included deceased people and people who had moved away.
Protesters questioned whether ordinary voters could easily correct mistakes through the available complaint process.
Around 120 Goregaon protesters demanded withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Protesters sought restoration of allegedly deleted eligible voters’ names and an inquiry into Form 7 submissions.
They called for FIRs against anyone found to have fraudulently filed deletion forms.
The government said deleted names included deceased people and voters who had moved residences.
A Bombay Catholic Sabha representative claimed more than 20 million names were deleted in Maharashtra, while officials’ redressal process was questioned.
- Who
- Around 120 members of the Samvidhan Jagar Yatra Samiti, Bombay Catholic Sabha and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, along with other citizens.
- What
- They protested the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and demanded restoration of allegedly deleted eligible voters’ names and Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- Where
- Goregaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- When
- Thursday evening; the article does not specify the date.
- Why
- Protesters alleged that eligible voters were removed through opaque or potentially fraudulent processes, particularly involving Form 7.
Protesters’ concerns
Government’s explanation
Reasons for deleted names
Protesters’ concerns
Protesters said eligible voters, including people who had voted in previous elections, may have been removed and questioned the scale of the deletions.
Government’s explanation
The government maintained that deleted names belonged to deceased people or voters who had moved residences.
Form 7 submissions
Protesters’ concerns
Protesters alleged that third parties were fraudulently filling out Form 7 to seek voter deletions and demanded an inquiry and possible FIRs.
Government’s explanation
The article does not report a government response specifically addressing the allegations about fraudulent Form 7 submissions.
Correction process
Protesters’ concerns
Protesters questioned how many affected voters would actually approach authorities and said the process and its operating procedures had serious gaps.
Government’s explanation
The government said eligible voters whose names were deleted had access to a redressal mechanism.
Key facts
- Protest size
- Around 120 people attended.
- Main demand
- Withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Voter-list demand
- Restoration of names allegedly deleted from the rolls.
- Form 7 concern
- Protesters alleged that third parties may have fraudulently submitted deletion forms.
- Government explanation
- The government said deleted names included deceased people and voters who had shifted residences.
- Maharashtra claim
- A Bombay Catholic Sabha spokesperson claimed more than 20 million names were deleted during the exercise.
- Additional demand
- Protesters sought FIRs against people found to have filed fraudulent deletion forms and called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Quotes
Arvind Nigale
Member of the Goregaon unit of the Samvidhan Jagar Yatra Samiti
“We are people who obey the Constitutional law. We will not support any unjust claims. Delete the names of people who are dead and those who are not citizens, but our concerns have not been addressed so far. People who have voted two or three times in earlier elections have found their names to be deleted.”
freepressjournal.in
“Third parties are filling up Form 7 for deletion of names. There are serious allegations that this is being done fraudulently.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
Related news
Maharashtra SIR Challenged in Bombay High Court, Voters Seek Restoration
NCP-SP Protests Pune SIR, Demands Inquiry Into Voter-List Revision
Rohit Pawar Warns Maharashtra Voter Deletions Could Reach Three Crore
Delhi Congress Protests, Demands CEC Resignation Over SIR Row
Madhya Pradesh Congress Plans Protests Over Electoral Roll Revision
Tharoor Urges India to Rethink or Abandon Voter Roll Revision
Goregaon Interfaith Dialogue Urges Collective Action For Social Justice
Groups Seek Probe Into Kharghar SIR Voter Documents
Mumbai Churches Deny Requiring Worshippers To Sign Anti-Conversion Declarations
Maharashtra Churches Seek Prayer Forms Before Anti-Conversion Law
