'Not just political parties, common people too doubtful': Priyanka Chaturvedi on SIR row

Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday said concerns over the Election Commissions Special Intensive Revision SIR process are not limited to political parties as common people are also beginning to question whether their votes are authorised valid and protected from tamperingSpeaking to IANS amid the controversy surrounding the SIR process and reports of objections raised by two Election Commissioners Chaturvedi also addressed the Oppositions preparations to bring an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh KumarPolitical parties are one side People are now beginning to wonder whether our vote is authorised and after being authorised whether it is valid Whether it is being tampered with or nothellip Chaturvedi saidShe stated that the Oppositions primary concern since the beginning of the SIR process has been the alleged arbitrary nature of additions and deletions from electoral rollsSince the SIR process has started our only complaint is that the additions and deletions that are happening are being done arbitrarily At present we have learned through the Election Commissioners that they raised objections fourteen times in the last 10 months Chaturvedi saidChaturvedi cites Election Commissioners objectionsChaturvedi stated that the two Election Commissioners had raised concerns over the procedures followed for adding deleting and restoring names during the SIR processShe said they had pointed out that Voter addition deletion and restoration processes in the SIR process were not clear The commission held no meeting and all the decisions were being taken arbitrarily which they realised only after they got the news in the mediardquoShe also cited concerns raised by the officers over the centralisation of electoralroll IT infrastructureThe most crucial part of the Election Commissions responsibility is keeping all the electionrelated processes decentralised so that all the State election commissioners could be empowered she addedChaturvedi further alleged that the introduction of Form 6 was illegal as permission from the government was required before introducing itShe cited the example of Goa saying that when an Electoral Registration Officer ERO asked for voters names to be included after completing an investigation and establishing that they were authorised voters the names could not be added directlyGoas example had come forth that when the ERO asked to include votersrsquo names after completing their investigation stating that the voters are authorised and that they should be relisted The information had to be given to the central database They couldnrsquot include the names themselves she saidOn what basis is BJP supporting themChaturvedi also questioned the manner in which the Election Commissions decisions were communicatedThere are no signatures on the press release from the Election Commission No press conference was held None of the three Election Commissioners sat together On what basis is the BJP supporting them she askedShe further questioned why the two Election Commissioners would have sought a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary if the reported differences were merely initial objections that were subsequently resolved collectivelyThe question is if everything happened according to their wishes these were initial objections initial differences and then everyone collectively took the decision why were two Election Commissioners eager to meet the Cabinet Secretary to tell him how arbitrary actions were being carried out Chaturvedi saidRahul Gandhi targets CEC Gyanesh KumarEarlier Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi confronted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party over the SIR controversy asking the CEC to resign and turn approver in the alleged stealing of votesThe remarks came a day after a media report claimed there were differences within the poll panel over the SIR of electoral rolls and other issues The Election Commission however rejected the report saying that decisions related to the SIR were taken unanimouslyAccording to reports Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several issues linked to the SIR process over a period of 10 months The reported concerns included voter deletions the handling of electoral data Form 6 and access to the electoralroll databaseThe Election Commission has maintained that operational queries and suggestions raised during the process were part of its internal deliberations and did not amount to disagreement with the final decisionsWith IANS inputs