My Opinion

For the first time, the Election Commission replied to allegations being made about the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “Should bogus votes be allowed in violation of the Constitution?..Should the Commission be swayed by attacks (by the opposition), and allow bogus votes to be cast in the name of electors who are deceased, permanently shifted, enrolled at two or more places…Some beginning had to be made from somewhere and this special intensive revision will be carried in all states in a phased manner.”
In Bihar, nearly 99 per cent of the total electors have been covered by this special intensive revision exercise, and over 91.3 per cent forms have been received and digitised.
On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that there was “vote theft” in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the Election Commission described it as “baseless and an afterthought”.
The EC said: “It is highly unfortunate that rather than filing an election petition as per law, or if filed, awaiting verdict of high court, he has not only made baseless allegations but also chosen to threaten EC, which is a constitutional body”.
The EC pointed out that defeated Congress candidates did not file a single election petition to challenge the result, despite the law allowing them to do so within 45 days of declaration of result. Other, however did file 10 election petitions in the High Court”.
On Thursday, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav threatened to boycott Bihar assembly polls if the opposition’s voice on special intensive revision is not heard. He alleged that names of several lakh voters will be removed in Bihar, and if such a move takes place, there was no reason in contesting elections. Tejashwi Yadav said he would speak on this with like-minded opposition party leaders.
Till Thursday, Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi’s complaint was that the Election Commission was not replying to their allegations.
When the Election Commission clarified that only names of those who are dead, or have shifted residence from Bihar, or who are illegal infiltrators, or who are fake voters or who have registered their names twice in the electoral list, will be removed, the picture is now clear. There should be no opposition to such a legally valid move.
It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to remove such names from the voters’ list. If any elector’s name is removed though he or she is alive, or has not shifted, or is not an infiltration, he or she will get 30 days’ time to file objections.
What more can the Election Commission do beyond this? As far as boycotting election is concerned, I don’t think Tejashwi Yadav will go to this extreme step.
Boycotting elections under present circumstances in Bihar will give a clean field to Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraaj Party. PK will get the chance to occupy RJD’s base in Bihar and Lalu Yadav will never allow this to happen.

RSS chief’s meet with Muslim leaders : A positive step

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Islamic scholars, maulanas and imams in Delhi’s Haryana Bhavan on Thursday. More than 60 Islamic scholars took part. Apart from Mohan Bhagwat, other RSS leaders Dattatreya Hosbale, Krishna Gopal, Ram Lal and Indresh Kumar also participated in the three-hour-long meeting. The maulanas aired their grievances before RSS leaders.
Bhagwat told the maulanas what Hindus expect from Muslim brethren and how the chasm could be narrowed between both communities. All India Imam Organisation chief Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi said, both the communities want to leave in peace and brotherhood and want India to become a world power.
The maulanas spoke openly in the presence of RSS leaders, like bulldozer action, mob lynching in the name of cow protection, boycott of Muslim traders, forcing minorities to prove their identities or the amended Waqf law. Bhagwat listened to their viewpoints and assured that the RSS would raise the voice of Muslims at all levels. He said, it would be better if religious leaders live in harmony and avoid giving hate speeches.
The RSS chief and its top leadership speaking to Muslim leaders is a positive sign. There should be more such meetings so that suspicious and grievances could be removed. This dialogue should continue with those Muslim leaders also, who have more recognition in their own community and who have a wider base. There must be efforts from both side to curb fringe elements that indulge in spreading hate.
Mohan Bhagwat’s policy is on the right path, his intentions are clear and such a move must be appreciated.

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There was uproar by the opposition in both Patna and Delhi over Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. In the state assembly, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed, not a single Bangladeshi or Rohingya has been found as a voter in the electoral list. He asked why Election Commission is silent on this issue. Tejashwi Yadav questioned why names of 51 lakh voters are being removed. He described withdrawal of voting rights as “murder of democracy”.
In Parliament, most of the opposition parties created uproar and stalled proceedings in both Houses over the SIR issue. They carried placards opposing the EC’s move, but Speaker Om Birla did not allow a discussion on this issue. There are clear indications that the government is unwilling to allow a debate on this matter, because EC is a constitutional body which has the right to revise electoral lists.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed, he had concrete evidence of large-scale changes made in the voters’ lists in Karnataka and Maharashtra. He promised to make this public soon. Supreme Court is going to hear the SIR issue on July 28.
While the opposition is levelling charges against the EC on SIR issue, the Commission is carrying on with its work. Data released by Election Commission shows that the special intensive revision is almost complete. More than 98 per cent voters have submitted their enumeration forms. Nearly 20 lakh voters have died since the last revision took place. Nearly 28 lakh voters are not reachable at their known addresses. They might have shifted their residence elsewhere. Nearly seven lakh voters were found to have vote in more than one places. Nearly one lakh voters are untraceable.
Election Commission says, the draft electoral list will be ready by August 1, and one month’s time will be given to voters and political parties to file objections till September 1. Their objections will be taken up by the EC. Political parties can cross check the electoral lists by going to the ground level. After disposing all objections within a month, the final electoral list will be issued.
I think the opposition should wait for the EC’s draft electoral list and Supreme Court’s judgement instead of levelling baseless charges against the Election Commission.

Why Justice Yashwant Varma’s case will drag on

Supreme Court has decided to set up a bench to hear Justice Yashwant Varma’s petition challenging the report of the inquiry committee of judges set up by the apex court in the cash recovery case.
In the petition, the judge has sought to cancel the recommendation of the then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna calling for his impeachment. Justice Yashwant Varma has fielded top lawyers like Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, Siddharth Luthra and Siddharth Agrawal in his defence.
In the Supreme Court, Kapil Sibal mentioned the judge’s petition and said some constitutional issues have been raised and there should be an urgent hearing. Chief Justice B R Gavai agreed to set up a special bench, but recused himself from the bench since he was part of the inquiry process as a member of the SC Collegium.
The three-judge inquiry committee, headed by Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court Sheel Nagu, had recorded the statements of 55 witnesses and had visited the judge’s bungalow where the cash was recovered in stacks.
On the basis of the inquiry committee report, the then CJI Sanjiv Khanna had written letters to President and Prime Minister on May 8 recommending impeachment of the judge. In his petition, Justice Varma has said that he was not given full opportunity to express his viewpoint.
Justice Varma’s case is not only being delayed but it becoming curiouser. It is a fact that currency notes were found from his official residence, there is a video of the notes, police had seen the bundles of cash, but neither police can question the change, nor can it file an FIR. Police cannot prepare a panchnama (statement of five persons).
The law forbids the police in doing so. The powers of Chief Justice of India are also limited. The CJI can transfer the judge, which he did. He can order an inquiry, which he did by setting up a committee of three senior judges who found Justice Varma guilty. The CJI can ask Justice Varma to resign, but the latter declined to do so.
The only option left for the CJI was to recommend to the government to initiate impeachment proceedings, which is long and time consuming. Before impeachment process could begin in Parliament, Justice Varma challenged the CJI’s decision in the Supreme Court. Top lawyers will appear for him. The matter can drag on.
The impeachment may take time. Unless the final decision comes, Justice Yashwant Varma will continue to be the judge of the High Court.

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Congress, RJD and other opposition parties were expecting the Supreme Court to put a brake on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise on electoral rolls going on in Bihar, but their expectations were belied.
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Election Commission to continue with the exercise, but at the same time, it asked the EC to consider Aadhar, Voter ID card and ration card as valid documents for this exercise.
The bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, it was prima facie of the view that EC should consider Aadhar, voter I-card and ration card as valid documents for this exercise.
The apex court held that it was the responsibility of EC to update and revise voters lists, remove incorrect entries and add new voters. On behalf of the EC, the apex court was told that the revision work would end on July 25, as more than 60 per cent forms of voters have been submitted.
The EC counsel told the court that the main purpose of SIR was to remove incorrect names from the list and the name of not a single legal voter shall be removed, nor would the right to cast vote be withheld. The apex court has sought a detailed reply from the EC on its queries within a week, after which further hearing shall take place on July 28.
Both the ruling and opposition camps described the SC order as their victory. Actually, the voter list revision process has been fully politicalized and the Supreme Court has realized this.
Question was raised as to why the necessity to check voter lists in Bihar? The answer given was, it is the responsibility of EC.
Question was raised, why is this exercise being carried out now? The answer given was, whenever elections are scheduled, voters lists need to be checked, so that no fake voter can cast a vote.
Question was asked, why 31 days were earmarked for this huge exercise? The reply was, the last intensive revision took place in Bihar in 2003, and at that time too, the time given was for 31 days. This time, voters whose names appeared in the list after 2003, will be checked and not all voters will be checked, hence 31 days are sufficient.
Question was asked, why names of voters are being verified on the basis of 11 documents and Aadhar, ration card and MNREGA card not included in the list of documents? The reply given was, these are three cards on the basis of which names of fake voters can be included. In Bihar, saturation of Aadhar card holders is more than 100 per cent. Hence, the possibility of fake Aadhar cards being misused for inclusion in voter list was more.
The Election Commission has promised that names of genuine voters will not be removed from the list, but the real problem is not related to questions and answers.
The basic problem relates to trust deficit about the Election Commission. A narrative is sought to be created to project that this intensive revision by EC is being carried out at the behest of the central government. And if the government has prodded the EC to carry out this exercise, it means, it could be a conspiracy to give advantage to the BJP.
What can anybody do in such a situation? When the number of voters increased before the Maharashtra elections, it became a problem, and when number of voters will decrease in Bihar, it will again become a problem.
There is a saying in Urdu, “Shaq Ka Ilaaj Hakeem Lukman Ke Paas Bhi Nahin Hai” (There is no treatment to cure somebody’s suspicions).

Firing at Kapil’s cafe : Canada has a lot to answer

Shots rang out outside a cafe in Canada owned by celebrity comedian Kapil Sharma. Babbar Khalsa International claimed responsibility. Harjit Singh Laddi, a Germany based Babbar Khalsa activist, claimed responsibility for firing shots at Kap’s Cafe, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada on Wednesday night. No one was hurt.
A video clip surfaced showing an unknown man emptying bullets from a semi-automatic pistol. Laddi said, some objectionable remarks were made about Nihang Sikhs in Kapil Sharma’s TV comedy show in the past.
Such a brazen attack on Kapil Sharma’s cafe is a cowardly act. Where are those leaders in Canada who were seeking protection for Khalistani supporters in the name of freedom of expression? Where are those who had been saying that everybody has a right to express views? Has Kapil Sharma the right to express his views or not?
Can any attempt to intimidate people by citing a comedian’s remark be justified? As far as I know, Kapil Sharma never makes any remark which hurts the sensibilities of any individual or community. His only job is to make his audience laugh. Action must be taken against those who carried out this firing.

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The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar gave call for Bihar Bandh on July 9 to protest the special intensive revision of electoral rolls ordered by Election Commission of India.
There was practically no effect on day-to-day life in other cities of India except Patna, where RJD, Congress and Left leaders led a protest march. Tejashwi Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the march and gave speeches.
Rahul Gandhi alleged there was massive rigging in Maharashtra assembly elections held last year and plans are afoot to do the same in the forthcoming Bihar assembly polls. He said, while the number of voters in Maharashtra was inflated, in Bihar, names of many voters will be deleted through this revision exercise.
Tejashwi Yadav alleged, the “EC is working at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and efforts are being made to delete names of voters belonging to poorer sections, backward and extremely backward classes, Dalits and Muslim communities”.
Two significant points came up at the Mahagathbandhan rally.
Firstly, Pappu Yadav and Rahul’s close aide Kanhaiya Kumar were barred from standing on the ‘rath’ (vehicle) in which Rahul and Tejashwi were travelling. It is being alleged that Tejashwi Yadav does not like these two leaders, and it was at his instance that both the leaders were prevented to travel in that vehicle. This has created anger among Congress supporters.
Secondly, Mahagathbandhan leaders criticized the Election Commission, but none of the leaders explained how verification of Bihar’s 7.9 crore voters can be carried out in 25 days.
Till yesterday, most of the leaders were claiming that the Election Commission would wave a magic wand, and run special trains for Bihar voters spread out throughout the country to come and join the revision exercise, but on Wednesday, most of these leaders were silent.
The reason being, Election Commission published data saying that 58 per cent voters have submitted their forms within last 15 days, and there are still 16 days left. By Wednesday evening, the Election Commission had received more than 53.89 lakh out of a total of 7.9 lakh voters in the state and the special intensive revision process will continue till July 25.
All voters’ lists will be prepared on the basis of this exercise. Election Commission has speeded up its exercise and all eyes are set on the verdict of Supreme Court on this issue.

Take action against MLA for beating canteen staff

Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) MLA Sanjay Gaekwad slapped and kicked an employee working at the MLA hostel canteen for serving stale food. Gaekwad had ordered food from the canteen at night, and dal, sabzi was served in his room.
The MLA alleged, he found a foul smell from the dal, and he went straight to the canteen carrying dal. In the canteen, the MLA rained blows and kicks on the hapless employee.
The next day, the matter was raised in the assembly and action was demanded by some members against Gaekwad, who had come to the House carrying dal and sabzi in a polythene bag. He demanded a probe into the affairs of the canteen.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, this matter should not be politicized and the question relates to behaviour of a politician with commoners. He described Gaekwad’s behaviour as questionable and said the MLA could have complained to the authorities about the stale food that was served.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, stale food was served to the MLA and he fell ill, but it was not justified to beat an employee over this issue. Outside the House, Sanjay Gaekwad said, “I am the disciple of Balasaheb Thackeray who taught us to beat someone if he does mischief.”
What the MLA did was shameful. Drunk with the elixir of power, he slapped and kicked a canteen employee. This must be condemned by all. It is easy to raise hand on a weak person, but, as Devendra Fadnavis said, the MLA could have complained about the stale food. There was no need to beat an employee.
Unfortunately, the MLA has not realized his mistake and he is saying that he would again beat any person who served him stale food. This is indicative of a sick mindset.
In Hindi, there is a saying, ‘Pahle Chori, Phir Seenazori’ (first you commit mistake, then you justify). A case should be filed against the legislator and he should be handed over to police.
All parties inside the Assembly must demand action against the unruly MLA. If a legislator commits such an act, the honour of the entire Assembly is sullied.
Unfortunately, leaders like Uddhav Thackeray are trying to score political brownie points from this. He described the MLA’s act as “a conspiracy by Eknath Shinde against Fadnavis”.
Giving a political colour to a legislator’s crime and providing the guilty person an escape route, does not lower the gravity of his crime.

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