Union Minister Slams Opposition’s ‘Baseless’ Attacks on Bihar’s Voter List Revision

Union Minister of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Saturday robustly defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, asserting that it is conducted solely by the Election Commission (EC) and not the central government.

Speaking to reporters in Kolkata after a meeting with fisheries officials from West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar, Singh accused certain opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Trinamool Congress (TMC), of politicizing the issue for their own benefit while dismissing allegations of harassment against Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-ruled states.

Singh clarified that the SIR, aimed at verifying genuine voters, is an EC-led initiative to remove deceased or migrated individuals from electoral rolls. “The EC is only verifying who are the genuine citizens of this country. Don’t you think that people who have died or left the country should be removed from the voter list?” he questioned, criticizing opposition parties for seemingly supporting the retention of invalid names.

He highlighted that the EC provides 11 alternative methods for voters to prove citizenship, adding that he personally complied with the process despite voting since before 2003. Responding to claims that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was excluded from the voter list, Singh retorted, “Was Tejashwi born after 2003? He has to submit forms. Did he do that?”

Addressing TMC’s allegations of harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants, Singh denied any mistreatment, stating that verified citizens can choose to register at their native place or workplace. He linked the SIR to national security efforts, particularly to identify illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators using fake documents like Aadhaar cards. “Don’t you want to ensure national security?” he challenged the TMC government. Singh also dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticisms of the SIR and Operation Sindoor, stating, “The country doesn’t run on what Rahul Gandhi says.”

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On allegations of withheld MGNREGA funds for West Bengal, Singh urged against politicization, noting that the issue is under review following a Calcutta High Court order. Shifting focus to his portfolio, he called for greater Centre-state collaboration to boost West Bengal’s pisciculture sector, which utilizes only 60% of its waterbody potential, urging the state to leverage central schemes for full capacity.

Singh’s remarks underscore the intensifying political debate over the SIR as Bihar approaches its assembly polls, with the EC’s voter verification process becoming a flashpoint between the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance and opposition parties demanding transparency.

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