Law Minister Defends SIR Amid Electoral Reforms Debate

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Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has maintained that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls is constitutionally valid, despite opposition from the Congress party during a heated debate in the Rajya Sabha on electoral reforms. Meghwal cited the framework laid out by Dr BR Ambedkar, the Constitution's framer, as the basis for revising electoral rolls, pointing out that SIR has been conducted in various states in the past. The law minister clashed with Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, who questioned the transparency of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the fairness of electoral processes. Surjewala emphasized the importance of a free and fair ballot election, stating that the ECI is the 'soul of democracy.' Meghwal countered by accusing the Congress party of hypocrisy, citing their treatment of Ambedkar during his lifetime. He noted that Dr Ambedkar was defeated in a 1954 by-election by the Congress party and that the party was now using his name for their own purposes. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP M Thambidurai supported the ECI's actions, stating that clean and accurate electoral rolls are essential to democracy and that campaigning is a crucial part of the electoral process. Meghwal further attacked the Congress party, pointing out that Dr Ambedkar himself had accused the party of malpractices during elections and questioning the ECI's actions at the time.