Speaking at a public event, Mr. Shah asserted that ensuring the “purity of the voters’ list” is the foundation of Indian democracy and an indispensable step for national security. His remarks come amidst political debate and opposition concerns over the large-scale deletion of names during the intensive door-to-door verification drive being conducted across several states.
The Rationale: Detect, Delete, Deport
Mr. Shah clarified the government’s stance, directly linking the SIR process to the challenge of illegal immigration. He reiterated the Centreβs firm policy regarding infiltrators:
“Detect, Delete, and Deport”: The Home Minister stated that the Narendra Modi government adheres strictly to this three-pronged policy. He claimed that the SIR exercise successfully detects non-citizens and those registered in multiple places, whose names must be deleted to safeguard the democratic process.
Citizenship is Non-Negotiable: “The right to vote belongs only to the citizens of this country. Infiltrators do not have the right to pollute our democratic system and influence our decisions,” Mr. Shah emphasized. He pointed out that the inclusion of non-citizens compromises the spirit of the Constitution.
Targeting ‘Infiltrators,’ Not ‘Refugees’: Shah drew a clear distinction between refugees (who seek shelter due to religious persecution) and infiltrators (who cross borders illegally for economic reasons), asserting that the SIR and the governmentβs efforts are squarely focused on the latter.
βοΈ Constitutional Mandate and Political Opposition
The SIR is a comprehensive, time-bound drive initiated by the ECI under its constitutional powers to ensure an accurate and error-free voter database. However, the process has faced political headwinds:
ECI’s Duty: Mr. Shah fully supported the ECI, stating that cleaning up the voter list is the poll body’s constitutional responsibility, regardless of which political party is in power.
Accusations Against Opponents: The Home Minister criticized opposition parties for opposing the SIR, alleging that they are doing so because their “vote banks are getting affected” by the removal of ineligible names. He suggested that political parties engaging in protecting infiltrators should recognize that such intentions will never be supported by the Indian electorate.
The second phase of the Special Intensive Revision is currently underway in several states, with the ECI providing a rigorous process for claims and objections to ensure no genuine, eligible voter is left out of the final rolls. The political rhetoric, however, confirms that the SIR process remains a high-stakes issue directly connected to national identity and the electoral landscape.