Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA, Condemns BJP Government’s Special Intensive Review of Voters’ List as a Sinister Plot to Target Minorities and Undermine Democracy

Chandigarh  : Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and a prominent voice for justice and equality, today issued a strong condemnation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in Bihar, labeling it a deliberate and malicious attempt to disenfranchise millions of voters, particularly targeting minority communities, the poor, and marginalized groups. Khaira warns that this exercise, conducted under the guise of electoral roll purification, is a calculated move to manipulate the democratic process ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.

The Special Intensive Review, initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on June 24, 2025, has sparked widespread controversy for its hasty timeline and stringent documentation requirements. Khaira alleges that the BJP is orchestrating this exercise to suppress the voting rights of specific communities, with a clear hidden agenda to target minorities, Dalits, backward classes, and migrant workers who form a significant portion of the opposition’s voter base.

“This so-called ‘Special Intensive Review’ is nothing but a Tughlaki Farman designed to strip millions of their constitutional right to vote,” said Khaira. “The BJP, in collusion with the Election Commission, is targeting minorities and marginalized groups to tilt the electoral playing field in their favor. This is a direct assault on the democratic fabric of our nation and an affront to the inclusive vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.”

Khaira highlighted several concerns regarding the SIR process:

1.  Targeting Minorities and Marginalized Groups: The stringent documentation requirements disproportionately affect minorities, Dalits, and economically disadvantaged voters who may lack access to specific identity documents, effectively excluding them from the electoral process.

2.  Unrealistic Timeline: The 25-day period allocated for this massive verification exercise is grossly inadequate, raising suspicions of a premeditated plan to remove legitimate voters from the rolls without due process.

3.  Undermining Democracy: The timing of the SIR, just months before the Bihar Assembly elections, suggests a deliberate attempt to manipulate the voter base and weaken opposition strongholds.

4.  Lack of Transparency: The ECI’s refusal to accept widely recognized government-issued IDs, such as Aadhaar or ration cards, for verification raises questions about the process’s fairness and intent.

Khaira also pointed to statements from opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who have similarly accused the BJP of using the SIR to disenfranchise up to two crore voters in Bihar, particularly those from vulnerable communities. He echoed their concerns that this exercise resembles a backdoor attempt to implement policies akin to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which could further alienate and marginalize minority groups.

“The BJP’s desperation to cling to power is evident in this shameless attempt to tamper with the voters’ list,” Khaira stated. “The people of Bihar, the birthplace of Indian democracy, will not forgive this attack on their rights. I urge the Election Commission to halt this flawed and biased exercise immediately and ensure that every eligible voter is protected.”

Khaira called upon civil society, political parties, and citizens to unite against this “anti-democratic conspiracy” and vowed to raise the issue in Punjab and beyond to safeguard the sanctity of India’s electoral process. He also demanded a thorough investigation into the ECI’s role and its alleged alignment with the BJP’s political agenda.