New Delhi [India], September 23 (ANI): CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Tuesday reacted to an Indian Express report that stated that two Election Commissioners had raised objections multiple times over decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and electoral roll procedures, alleging that the Election Commission has become "redundant" due to internal dissent over decisions taken by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Speaking to ANI, Brittas alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner was controlling the entire election process and claimed that the two Election Commissioners had formally raised objections 14 times in the last 10 months over various decisions.
"There is only Gyanesh Kumar, the autocrat, who is controlling the entire election process at the beck and call of Mr Modi and Mr Amit Shah. The Commission has become redundant because two members of the Commission have been registering their opposition, dissent over many of the decisions, controversial decisions that have been taken by Gyanesh Kumar," Brittas said.
"Last 10 months, 14 times, formally they objected to. Many of the aspects of SIR, mass deletion, addition, Form 6, all sorts of humbug that is happening in this country in the form of SIR," he added.
The CPI(M) leader further demanded the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner and said a notice submitted earlier to the Rajya Sabha Chairman regarding the matter should be revived.
"My demand is that Gyanesh Kumar should be removed lock, stock, and barrel, and the notice which we gave to the Rajya Sabha Chairman on 24th of April, that needs to be revived, that is for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner," he said.
Brittas also urged the Supreme Court to take cognizance of the matter and stay the SIR process, while demanding restoration of the voter list that existed before the revision exercise.
"In the meantime, Supreme Court also should take cognizance of this matter and should make sure that the entire SIR process is stayed and the original voters list which was there before the SIR should be restored," he said.
Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day Chintan Baithak with Union Ministers, Brittas said such deliberations should focus on addressing issues faced by people.
"Well, it is good that at least he gets some time to think about it. But it should be for a positive thinking. All that is happening in this country is a negative thinking at the behest of the ministers and the Prime Minister," he said.
He also raised concerns over unemployment, agrarian issues and data-related matters, and said the Prime Minister should also engage with opposition leaders.
"I feel that the Prime Minister also takes out his time to have a thinking process with the opposition leaders too," Brittas said.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sougata Roy criticised the SIR process of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise was flawed and claiming that objections have been raised by two Election Commissioners against certain decisions.
Roy said that his party had already raised objections against the SIR process and approached the Supreme Court over the matter.
"I can see the whole process of SIR as wrong. For SIR, we have raised our objection and gone to the Supreme Court. What came to light is that out of the EC, two have raised objections," Roy said.
He further targeted the Election Commission and demanded action against the Chief Election Commissioner, saying that he had submitted an impeachment petition.
"The EC is under the Law Ministry, which should clean this. I am against the Chief EC and have given an impeachment petition. No result has come out. (ANI)
CPI-M MP John Brittas targets CEC over SIR process, alleges internal dissent among EC members
