AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang Raises Alarm Over SIR Exercise

Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament from Sri Anandpur Sahib, Malvinder Singh Kang, has written a detailed letter to the Election Commission of India expressing serious concern over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and its possible impact on genuine voters of Punjab, especially the large NRI Punjabi community.

What did Malvinder Singh Kang say?

Kang said that the manner in which the SIR exercise is being conducted raises grave questions about transparency and intent. Referring to large-scale deletion of voters in states like Bihar and West Bengal during similar exercises, he warned that Punjab cannot be allowed to become the next target of voter manipulation.

He alleged that the BJP has repeatedly attempted to weaken Punjab and suppress voices that do not support its politics. “Earlier, Punjab and farmers were deliberately defamed. Now, under the guise of voter verification, attempts are being made to remove bona fide Punjabi voters from electoral rolls,” Kang said.

What about NRIs from Punjab?

In his letter to the Election Commission, Kang highlighted the concerns of lakhs of NRIs from Punjab who maintain strong emotional, economic, and democratic ties with their homeland. He pointed out that strict timelines, physical verification requirements, and procedural hurdles could result in wrongful deletion of genuine voters living abroad.

The AAP MP urged the Election Commission to introduce practical and NRI-friendly mechanisms during the SIR exercise. He proposed online and digital verification facilities for overseas voters, flexible timelines for document submission, verification support through Indian embassies and consulates, dedicated grievance redressal mechanisms, and safeguards against deletion of long-standing voters due to temporary absence from the country.

Kang also questioned why Punjab has been placed under a tighter verification schedule compared to some other states despite elections being held around the same period. He termed this “selective pressure” suspicious and politically motivated.

Calling upon all political parties and citizens of Punjab to remain vigilant, Kang appealed for collective efforts to ensure that not even a single genuine Punjabi voter is removed from the rolls. “Punjab has always stood for democracy and justice. Punjabis will never tolerate any attempt to snatch away their democratic rights,” he asserted.

Kang reaffirmed that AAP will strongly oppose any move aimed at disenfranchising the people of Punjab and demanded complete transparency in the voter verification process.