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Participating in the discussion on electoral reforms, the Union Minister said that the initiative to revise the electoral list is based on the constitutional framework created by BR Ambedkar.
He alleged that when Ambedkar was alive and in active public life, the Congress did everything to humiliate him.
He said, Congress tried everything possible to defeat him in the elections in 1952 and did the same again in 1953-54.
Meghwal said that SIR (Special Intensive Review) is based on the principle of one person, one vote and one value proposed by Ambedkar.
“He said that we should move ahead with it because it is also a key pillar of electoral reforms. Our Constitution and the electoral process are based on this principle. So, when the work is being done under SIR to exclude from the voter list those who are not eligible, why are they (opposition parties) opposing it?” He said.
Meghwal said that earlier when SIR was done under different governments, it was fine for the opposition parties, but when the present government is taking the initiative, it is being opposed.
He said that this initiative started from Bihar and now in the second phase it will be launched in 12 other states including Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Goa.
Meghwal said that the Supreme Court has also said that the Election Commission has the right to file SIR.
Attacking the Congress, he said that former party president Sonia Gandhi had got Indian citizenship in 1983, but her name was in the voter list in 1980.
Meghwal also attacked the previous Congress governments for their bias in the appointments of Election Commission members.
Meghwal said that after the Narendra Modi government assumed power in 2014, reforms were made regarding the appointment of Election Commission members.
On changes in the Constitution, he alleged that Congress governments brought amendments to serve their political interests, while BJP governments brought changes for the general welfare of SC/ST, OBC and women.
“During the 16 years of the Modi government, we amended the Constitution 22 times, whereas during the 55 years of Congress rule, it was changed 77 times,” Meghwal said.
Congress’s Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that the stature of the Election Commission has declined in the last few years.
He alleged that the Commission has chosen to remain a mute spectator when “scientific rigging” and looting of votes is taking place in broad daylight under the guise of SIR.
BJP leader Dinesh Sharma said that election reforms like the introduction of EVMs have curbed various illegal activities like booth capturing.
Terming ‘One Nation One Election’ as a great electoral reform, he said that everyone should support this initiative.