Punjab: Aam Aadmi Party MP from Sri Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang has written a detailed letter to the Election Commission of India, expressing deep concern over the ongoing Special Serious Reform (SIR) exercise and its possible impact on the genuine voters of Punjab, especially the large non-resident Indian (NRI) Punjabi community.
Kang said that the way the SIR exercise is being conducted raises serious questions on its transparency and intentions. Citing large-scale deletion of voters’ names during similar exercises in states like Bihar and West Bengal, he warned that Punjab cannot be allowed to become the next target of voter manipulation.
He alleged that the BJP has repeatedly tried to weaken Punjab and suppress those voices that do not support it politically. Kang said that earlier Punjab and farmers were deliberately defamed. Now, under the guise of voter verification, efforts are being made to remove genuine Punjabi voters from the voter list.
In his letter to the Election Commission, Kang highlighted the concerns of millions of NRIs in Punjab, who have strong emotional, economic and democratic ties with their motherland. He said that due to strict time limits, physical presence and processing difficulties, names of genuine voters living abroad can be wrongly deleted.
The AAP MP appealed to the Election Commission to introduce a practical and NRI-friendly system during the SIR exercise. He suggested online and digital verification facilities for foreign voters, flexible deadlines for submission of documents, assistance in verification through Indian embassies and consulates, a dedicated grievance redressal system and safeguards to prevent the names of old voters from being deleted from the list due to their temporary stay out of the country.
Kang also raised the question as to why such a strict verification schedule was imposed on Punjab despite elections being held at almost the same time compared to some other states. He described this ‘election pressure’ as suspicious and politically motivated.
Appealing to all political parties and people of Punjab to remain vigilant, Kang appealed for united efforts to ensure that the name of even a single genuine Punjabi voter is not removed from the list. He stressed that Punjab has always stood for democracy and justice. Punjabis will never tolerate any attempt to snatch away their democratic rights.
Kang reiterated that AAP will strongly oppose any step aimed at depriving the people of Punjab of their right to vote and demands complete transparency in the voter verification process.
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