2 weeks ago
Ramchander Rao Welcomes EC Clarification Barring FRC as Identity Proof
In Telangana, a state in India, there is a list of people who are allowed to vote.
Officials sometimes check and update this list, and that update is called a Special Intensive Revision.
The state government recently created a new family document called the Family Register Certificate, which people can get through a government platform called MeeSeva.
The Election Commission of India, which is in charge of elections, said this certificate cannot be used to prove who you are when updating the voter list.
It said the certificate is like a ration card, which can only be used to get subsidised rice and welfare benefits.
A BJP leader named Ramchander Rao was happy about that decision.
He said the certificate could be used to add people who should not be on the voting list, including illegal immigrants.
He blamed the Congress party, and also BRS and MIM, for this.
The BJP has also taken the matter to the Telangana High Court.
The state government says it made the Family Register to make it easier to give services to citizens, so the two sides disagree about what the certificate is really for.
Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao welcomed the Election Commission's clarification that the Family Register Certificate (FRC) cannot be used as identity proof during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Election Commission authorities said on Wednesday that the FRC would not be accepted as valid identity proof for the SIR, informing the office of the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer.
Rao alleged that the Congress was using the FRC for a 'backdoor entry' of 'illegal aliens' into the electoral rolls and said Congress, BRS and MIM must stop sheltering illegal vote banks.
According to Rao, the ECI's 2013 guidelines hold that the FRC, introduced through GO MS No. 172 on July 25, is equivalent to a ration card and valid only for welfare schemes and subsidised rice.
The BJP has challenged the FRC in the Telangana High Court, and the draft electoral rolls are scheduled to be released on August 17.
- Who
- Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao, the Election Commission of India, the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer's office, and the Telangana state government
- What
- The Election Commission clarified that the Family Register Certificate (FRC) cannot be used as identity proof during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a decision Rao welcomed.
- Where
- Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- When
- EC authorities made the clarification on Wednesday; Rao responded on Thursday; the FRC was introduced through GO MS No. 172 on July 25.
- Why
- The EC held that the FRC is equivalent to a ration card and not valid identity for voter enrolment, while Rao alleged the Congress introduced it to bring 'illegal aliens' into the electoral rolls.
BJP's View
State Government's View
Purpose of the Family Register Certificate
BJP's View
Rao alleges the FRC was introduced with a 'malafide intention' to facilitate bogus voter enrolment and bring 'illegal aliens' onto the electoral rolls, at the behest of the AIMIM.
State Government's View
According to the government order, the Family Register was introduced to facilitate the delivery of citizen services, ensure uniformity in the verification of family particulars, and provide an easily accessible record.
FRC as identity proof in the SIR
BJP's View
The BJP welcomed the EC's rejection of the FRC as identity proof, citing ECI's 2013 guidelines that it is only equivalent to a ration card, and urged Congress, BRS and MIM to stop sheltering illegal vote banks.
State Government's View
The state government presented the Family Register as a flagship e-governance initiative of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments aimed at improving citizen services.
Key facts
- Main Figure
- N Ramchander Rao, Telangana BJP president
- Event
- EC clarification barring the Family Register Certificate (FRC) as identity proof during the SIR of electoral rolls
- EC Decision
- FRC not accepted as valid identity proof for the SIR; EC informed the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer's office
- FRC Introduction
- Introduced through GO MS No. 172 on July 25; obtainable via the MeeSeva platform
- EC's Reasoning
- FRC is equivalent to a ration card, valid only for welfare schemes and subsidised rice
- Allegation
- Rao accused Congress of enabling 'illegal aliens' to enter electoral rolls; called out Congress, BRS and MIM
- Legal Status
- BJP's petition against the FRC under hearing in the Telangana High Court
- Next Step
- Draft electoral rolls to be released on August 17
Quotes
N Ramachander Rao
Chief of the State BJP unit, Hyderabad
“The Congress’ attempt to get a backdoor entry to illegal aliens in the electoral rolls through FRC has received rap on its knuckles from the Election Commission.”
deccanchronicle.com
“"Congress, BRS and MIM must at least now stop sheltering illegal vote banks and stop finding new ways to legitimise illegals."”
thehansindia.com
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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