ECI trying to replicate ‘SIR’ in other States, alleges CPI(M) leader

CPI(M) Politburo member B.V. Raghavulu on Monday alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) facilitated a backdoor citizenship registration process under the guise of voter enrolment in Bihar and sent letters to other States to replicate it even as the Supreme Court was looking into the matter. 

Addressing the media here on Monday (July 14), Mr. Raghavulu said that the Special Identification Register (SIR) in Bihar was not supposed to ascertain the citizenship of people. He further alleged that the SIR process was clearly biased towards the BJP as the ECI pushed for a Bihar-style SIR in other States even before the apex court hearing on July 28.

U.S. tariffs

Mr. Raghavulu also alleged that the Indian government yielded to pressure mounted by the U.S. government during the tariff negotiations. The tariffs which were likely to be in the 23%–25% range, despite the claims of a tough stand by the Indian government, would cause grave injustice to the farmers.

Import of Genetically Modified (GM) wheat, corn, soy, and dairy products would harm 80 million dairy farmers in the country. The government kept quiet when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on steel, and high tariffs on some other items/commodities, he added.

Mr. Raghavulu alleged that the government made secret deals for purchase of Boeing aircraft, helicopters, and nuclear reactors from the U.S.

Reacting to A.P. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s comments on Hindi language, Mr. Raghavulu said that all languages were equal under the Constitution, and Hindi should not be imposed on someone. Mr. Kalyan is submissive to the BJP in this regard and his stand thereof is contradictory with the line taken by him earlier, the CPI(M) leader added.