"It is not democratically correct": DMK MP Tiruchi Siva flags SIR exercise in Bihar

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Siva reiterated that leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will hold a march to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) office on Ashoka Road on August 11.

"All the opposition parties of the INDIA bloc and those concerned about the voting rights of people will march to the Election Commission of India on 11th August. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is not democratically correct," Tiruchi Siva said.

Demanding a discussion on the SIR exercise in the Parliament, he asked, "Why is the government not allowing for a discussion on the SIR exercise?"

In a show of unity against the ongoing electoral roll revision, the INDIA bloc, along with the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has planned a joint march to the ECI office to protest against the ongoing electoral roll revision in Bihar.

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress MP KC Venugopal also criticised the Centre over the SIR exercise, alleging that the government is "running away from discussion" in Parliament.

"They are not even allowing to pick the word SIR, why? The Election Commission introduced the system, but they are running away from a discussion on SIR. Why? What do they want to hide? People of India would like to know why SIR is happening, what is the necessity? Our thing is very clear, the Supreme Court has told them to include Aadhaar, an election ID card, but they are not listening to the Supreme Court either. This is a clear-cut hidden agenda to cut targeted votes," Venugopal told ANI.

"India is witnessing a horrible exercise by the Election Commission of India, to cut targeted voters, who are the downtrodden, marginalised, poor people, and their right to vote is under question by the SIR. Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission of India to seek answers from them," he added. (ANI)