New Delhi: Opposition parties raised the issue of alleged discrepancies in voter lists in both houses of parliament on Monday (March 10), with both Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Rahul Gandhi, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha demanding a discussion on the issue.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee in the Lok Sabha demanded action against the Election Commission, while in the Rajya Sabha, leader of the house and Union minister J.P. Nadda termed the opposition’s walkout on the issue as a bid to “malign” parliament.
During zero hour in the Lok Sabha, TMC MP Sougata Ray raised the matter. Last week, amid reports of some voters having identical elector photo identity card (EPIC) numbers, the Election Commission said that while some EPIC numbers “may be identical”, other details such as a voter’s demographic information, assembly constituency and polling booth are different.
“Our agitation on this issue will continue,” said Ray.
Speaker Om Birla then asked whether the government drew out the voter lists.
Gandhi said that while the government may not be drawing the voter lists, questions are being raised about voter lists across the country.
“Questions are being raised about voter lists across the country and in Maharashtra, the voter lists have been black and white. That is why the entire opposition is demanding a detailed discussion on the voter list in parliament,” said Gandhi.
Last month, opposition MPs from Maharashtra alleged irregularities in the voter lists in the state and asked how there were more voters in Maharashtra than its adult population.
Gandhi accused the Election Commission of “manipulating” the voter list.
Banerjee said these issues have only come up in the last few years and that proceedings should be brought against the Election Commission.
“These things have come up over the last few years. Earlier, it was not there. Where is the increase in the number of voters in West Bengal from? Voters are coming from Gujarat and Haryana … This is not tolerable,” he said.
He added: “The Election Commission, all the time, says it has conducted transparent and fair elections. It is clear that there were no transparent elections for the last few years. There was no fair election for the last few years, not at all,” he said.
“The Election Commission has not done a proper act and appropriate proceedings should be brought against the Election Commission for this reason.”
In the Rajya Sabha, opposition members staged a walkout after a discussion on the issue was not allowed under Rule 267.
TMC MPs Saket Gokhale, Sagarika Ghose Congress MP Ajay Maken had submitted notices demanding a discussion on the duplication of EPIC numbers across states.
However, deputy chairman Harivansh declined the notices citing previous rulings by Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, leading to loud protests from the opposition benches.
When Kharge started speaking on the issue of voter lists, the deputy chairman said that he had already declined the notices. The opposition then staged a walkout.
Nadda accused the opposition of attempting to “malign democracy” and condemned their walkout.
“The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to discuss anything under this roof. But there are certain rules and regulations for debates in the House. The MPs will get an opportunity to raise their issues during the debate on the Union budget over the next ten days. There is a provision for short-duration discussions and there is a provision for long-duration discussions. They don’t read the rules,” said Nadda.
“Learn to read the rules and regulations. This is irresponsible behaviour by the opposition. In a way, it is an attempt to malign parliament and democracy. They should go for a refresher course, understand the rules and regulations and the government is ready to discuss anything. I condemn their walkout and hope good sense prevails in future.”
