Halt Kerala SIR, it has ulterior motives: IUML moves SC

Kozhikode: IUML approached Supreme Court seeking an immediate stay on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala in view of the upcoming local body elections. In the petition filed by IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty, IUML said that the timing of SIR in Kerala is loaded with ‘ulterior motives'. The petition moved by IUML Rajya Sabha MP Haris Beeran referred to the suicide of booth-level officer (BLO) Aneesh George in Kannur allegedly due to work pressure."The state and its machinery are fully preoccupied with local body elections, simultaneously SIR also has to be conducted which itself is an impediment. This creates a situation where the state machinery, including BLOs will not be in a position to conduct this exercise because of the pressure of work on both counts. The work pressure of BLOs has risen to such an extent that it has led to the suicide of BLO Aneesh George in Kerala," stated the petition.IUML also raised concerns over NRI voters, who are residing abroad, getting excluded from the list saying that though ECI said there is a facility for online registration, BLOs will have to physically verify whether the NRI is in-fact a resident of the address that is given in the enumeration form. "And if the NRI is not present when the BLO comes for verification, then NRIs vote will be excluded from the voters list," said the petition.Addressing the media in Malappuram on Monday, Kunhalikutty alleged that there was an ‘unholy haste' on the part of ECI in conducting SIR. He said ECI's haste lends credence to the complaints raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about the election process in Bihar. "It shows that there is some other motive. The death of George is unfortunate and it should open the eyes of authorities," he said, adding that people should not be reluctant in participating in the process even as IUML has approached the court against it.IUML state president Panakkad Sadikali Thangal said that people should be given more time for SIR.

Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here