New Delhi, October 31 (PTI) Samajwadi Party MP Harendra Malik on Saturday termed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise a "direct assault" on the 'PDA', alleging that it is being used to remove the names of voters belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, backward classes and minority communities from electoral rolls.
Coined by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, 'PDA' stands for 'pichhda' (backward classes), Dalit, and 'alpsankhyak' (minorities).
Malik asserted that to protect the Constitution and democracy, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar must be removed from his post.
Supporting a 'resolution' brought against Kumar at the INDIA bloc's "public impeachment" programme here, Malik alleged that SIR is not a routine administrative procedure, but rather an attempt to influence the electoral process.
"The SIR is not a standard procedure; it is an attempt to influence elections through 'match-fixing.' It is a direct assault on the 'PDA.' The names of SC, ST, OBC, and minority voters are being deleted."
Malik claimed that the electoral roll revision process is disproportionately affecting marginalised and vulnerable sections of society.
"If the Constitution and democracy are to be saved, the chief election commissioner must be removed," he asserted.
Backing the resolution moved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Malik argued that the impartiality of electoral processes and protection of voters' rights are fundamental to democracy.
