UDUPI
Social activist Shivsunder on Sunday alleged that the ongoing voter data exercise is not a routine revision but an attempt to prepare a completely new voter list, raising concerns among citizens about documentation and eligibility.
Speaking at a public awareness meeting on voter list mapping organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and other groups at the Jamia Masjid auditorium, he claimed that the process was placing the burden of proof on ordinary people. He said many citizens now feel they must prove they are Indians by producing documents.
Shivsunder argued that earlier, election officials visited homes to collect details, but now people are being asked to submit papers on their own. He expressed fear that poor families, migrants, and minorities could face difficulties if records are missing or names differ across documents.
He said democracy depends on giving voting rights to all citizens above 18 years of age and that no one should be excluded because of caste, religion, language, or region. He also alleged that booth-level officers were not properly visiting houses and were instead completing work from offices.
If people fail to submit forms or documents in time, their names could be removed from the voter list, he warned, urging residents to stay alert and verify their details.
Several community leaders attended the meeting and appealed to citizens to check their voter information and respond to official notices. Election authorities have not yet responded to the allegations made at the event.
Officials earlier said the exercise aims to improve accuracy, but detailed clarification on local implementation is still awaited. Citizens were advised to keep documents ready safely.
