Is the Voter Verification Drive Targeting the Muslim Community? Shahnawaz Hussain Responds to Misinformation in Bihar

New Delhi, July 7 (NationPress) In the midst of a rising political uproar surrounding the Election Commission’s ongoing voter verification initiative in Bihar, prominent BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain vehemently dismissed the Opposition's allegations that the update of the voters list targets the minority community.

Labeling these allegations as politically driven and a form of “irresponsible fearmongering,” Hussain asserted that the voter verification initiative is a routine electoral process and should not be viewed as a conspiracy.

“Those who are creating confusion regarding voter verification are acting improperly. Voter verification is a standard procedure that consistently occurs prior to elections... This is merely a procedural step, yet some individuals are propagating the false narrative that Muslim votes are being systematically eliminated,” stated Hussain.

“As someone from Bihar who has served as a Member of Parliament three times and as a minister in both the state and central governments, I can confidently say that not a single Muslim has approached me claiming their vote is being revoked. It seems these individuals are merely envisioning a scenario where Muslim votes are reduced. Lacking any genuine issues to address, they are attempting to instill fear within the Muslim community. This is truly regrettable,” he continued.

This controversy arose following the Election Commission’s announcement regarding a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls. The purpose of this revision is to ensure that only qualified citizens are included on the voter rolls, a process mandated by the Constitution.

On July 3, 11 parties from the INDIA coalition convened with EC officials, alleging that over two crore voters in Bihar could be disenfranchised due to an inability to provide necessary documentation in a timely manner. However, the EC clarified that voters may submit their documents at any time before July 25, and those who miss this deadline will be granted another opportunity during the claims and objections period.

In a statement released on July 6, the EC underscored that 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are conducting house-to-house visits to assist voters in completing and submitting enumeration forms.

The EC also reiterated that the goal of the revision is to eliminate duplicate, outdated, or ineligible entries, such as those from individuals who have relocated, passed away, or are registered in multiple locations, rather than to target any specific community.

Additionally, Hussain criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of exploiting an isolated crime incident in Patna to tarnish the reputation of the entire state of Bihar.

“Nitish Kumar has never compromised with crime or criminals. While one incident in Patna is unfortunate, using it to malign the entire state is highly irresponsible. Rahul Gandhi should offer an apology for his remarks. Bihar is currently witnessing effective governance under Nitish Kumar, attracting investors, generating jobs, and providing a sense of security for citizens even at night. One exception cannot define the norm.”