Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Owaisi Calls SIR Drive ‘Backdoor NRC,’ Questions Election Commission Decisions
Asaduddin Owaisi criticized a voter-list checking exercise called SIR.
He said it could work like a “backdoor NRC.”
He argued that poor people, migrants, women and minorities may face extra difficulty proving their eligibility.
He questioned how families can show their voting history if older relatives’ names are missing from voter lists.
Owaisi said about 6.5 crore names were deleted in 13 states and Union Territories.
He said removing a name should not automatically change a person’s citizenship status.
He also questioned changes to voter forms and the work of local election officers.
The Election Commission has said its key SIR decisions were unanimous, but Owaisi questioned whether that was true.
Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the Election Commission of India’s claim that key SIR decisions were unanimous.
He asked whether the decisions were instead made through majority voting amid allegations of an internal rift.
Owaisi called the Special Intensive Revision exercise a “backdoor NRC” that burdens poor, migrant, female and minority electors.
He said nearly 6.5 crore names were deleted across 13 states and Union Territories under the drive.
Owaisi also raised concerns about Form 6 changes, Booth Level Officers, and the centralisation and security of ECINet and ERONet.
- Who
- AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, and the Election Commission of India.
- What
- Owaisi questioned the unanimity of decisions concerning the Special Intensive Revision voter-list exercise and criticized its effects and implementation.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- Owaisi spoke at Darussalam, the AIMIM headquarters, in Hyderabad.
- Why
- He said the exercise places an unfair documentation burden on vulnerable electors and raised concerns about voter deletions, citizenship implications, election forms, officials and electoral databases.
Election Commission’s stated position
Owaisi’s criticism
Decision-making
Election Commission’s stated position
The Election Commission of India has claimed that its key SIR decisions were unanimous.
Owaisi’s criticism
Owaisi questioned that claim and asked whether the decisions were actually made by majority vote because of alleged internal differences.
Effect of the SIR exercise
Election Commission’s stated position
The article does not provide the Election Commission’s response to Owaisi’s concerns about the exercise.
Owaisi’s criticism
Owaisi called SIR a “backdoor NRC” and said it creates an unfair documentation burden for poor electors, migrants, women and minorities.
- Speaker
- Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP
- Exercise
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Deleted names
- Nearly 6.5 crore names across 13 states and Union Territories
- Owaisi’s characterization
- A “backdoor NRC”
- Questioned issue
- Whether key Election Commission decisions were unanimous or made by majority vote
- Other concerns
- Form 6 changes, Booth Level Officers, and the security and centralisation of ECINet and ERONet