His remarks came after former diplomat Navdeep Suri said he faced problems during the SIR process in Punjab. Chidambaram claimed the exercise could create a new class of non-voting citizens across India, raising concerns about voting rights. Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram on Monday attacked the Election Commission of India over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
In a post on X, Chidambaram said, “Based on the outcomes so far, at the end of the S.I.R. process, 10% of India’s adult population will be ‘citizens’ but without the right to vote, thanks to the ECI. That is nearly 10 crore people. Suri, who served as India’s Ambassador to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates and as High Commissioner to Australia, said some of his details did not match the 2003 electoral rolls being used for verification. He said he was posted in London in 2003 and had not taken part in that electoral roll revision. Got a message today from a volunteer saying some details don’t match with SIR in 2003!! Replied that I was not in India in 2003, so they’ve asked for passport as proof,” he said.
Suri said he first visited the Booth Level Officer and submitted his voter ID and Aadhaar card. Suri said on X, adding that officials later asked him to produce his passport as proof. Suri later said he was asked to collect a notice and return with documents showing that he was an Indian citizen. “Spoke with BLO, was told that I should come and collect the notice. The Punjab Chief Electoral Officer has said that receiving a notice during the SIR process is not a reason to worry.
The ECI has created a new category of ‘non-voting citizens’. “Sharing my experience with #SIR in Punjab. Went to BLO, submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured that everything is in order. And then come again with unspecified documents that show I am an Indian citizen. Voters have been asked to check their details, submit the required documents and complete the verification process.
