"Public in Panic Over SIR Exercise," Says RJD's Tejashwi Yadav

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday strongly criticised the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging large-scale irregularities and 'disenfranchisement' of poor and migrant voters.

Addressing a press conference, Yadav said the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the rest of the opposition had consistently objected to the SIR process.

Yadav said, "We have repeatedly raised objections regarding SIR in Bihar... So much fraud is happening; the BLOs are signing the form, putting thumb impressions and uploading it. There is confusion among the people."

Yadav claimed that the 'disenfranchisement' of migrant labourers from Bihar, who are compelled to work outside the state for a livelihood, raised a critical question on the legitimacy of the electoral process.

"There are some documents that the poor do not have, so how will those who go out for work become voters. There are 11 such documents that the poor do not have. The migrants from Bihar who have to work outside, how did they become voters," he asked.