Concerns Grow Over INDIA Bloc March as major opposition parties plan a protest in Delhi on Monday. The march aims to move from Parliament to the Election Commission. However, Delhi Police reported that no official permission has been sought for the event, and officers confirmed that no application has been submitted.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh explained the reasons for the protest. On Sunday, he announced that MPs from the INDIA Bloc would join the march. They intend to oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. This process, meant to update the voter list, has raised suspicions of voter fraud ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Singh alleged that Booth Level Officers in Bihar are filling “fake forms” with outside help, which could distort vote counts. He warned that the issue is serious because Bihar’s rolls also affect states like Punjab and Chandigarh. He further pointed out that Rahul Gandhi exposed troubling errors, such as names appearing at multiple polling booths. According to Singh, digitized voter lists could resolve such irregularities by flagging duplicate entries linked to the same Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number.
The speed of the SIR process has raised additional concerns. Normally, the revision takes around two years. But in Bihar it is being wrapped up in just one month before the elections. Critics argue that such haste undermines fairness not only in Bihar but also in neighboring states.
If irregularities remain uncorrected, Punjab and Chandigarh may face similar problems due to shared demographics. Opposition leaders argue that clean and accurate voter rolls are essential to ensure free and fair elections.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju responded on August 1, saying the government is open to debate on many issues but not on the SIR process. He stressed that the Election Commission is a constitutional body. And manages SIR as a routine procedure and does not require parliamentary debate. He assured citizens that proper procedures remain in place.
Nevertheless, the announcement of the march and Rijiju’s remarks have stirred strong public reactions. Many citizens fear the flawed revision process could threaten their voting rights. People stress that transparency and fairness are critical for protecting democracy.
In conclusion, the debate over the Special Intensive Revision and voter lists has become central to the INDIA Bloc’s protest strategy. Concerns Grow Over INDIA Bloc March underline the importance of fair elections, accurate rolls, and accountability as India prepares for the 2024 polls.
