Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen Raises Alarm Over West Bengal's Hasty Electoral Roll Revision
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has voiced serious concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, describing the exercise as "being done in a hurry" and warning that it poses a threat to democratic participation. With state assembly elections looming just months away, Sen emphasized that this rushed process is "unjust to voters" and could undermine the integrity of India's electoral system.
Sen Highlights Time Constraints and Fairness Issues in Electoral Process
Speaking to PTI from Boston on Saturday, the renowned economist acknowledged that a thorough review of electoral rolls, if conducted carefully with adequate time, can strengthen democracy. However, he pointed out that the current situation in Bengal falls short of this ideal. "The SIR is being done in a hurry, with inadequate time for people with voting rights to have sufficient opportunity to submit documents to vindicate their entitlement to vote in the coming assembly elections," Sen stated. He added that this approach is "both unjust to the electorate and unfair to Indian democracy."
Personal Experience Reveals Documentation Challenges and Bureaucratic Hurdles
Recalling his own encounter during the revision process, Sen noted that even Election Commission officials appeared pressured by time constraints. He shared a specific incident where his right to vote from his home constituency in Santiniketan was questioned, despite his details being officially recorded. "They questioned me about my deceased mother's age at my date of birth, even though, as a voter herself, my mother's details, like mine, were stored also in their own official records," he explained.
Sen also highlighted the broader documentation challenges faced by many Indians, particularly those from rural backgrounds. "Like many Indian citizens born in rural India, I do not have a birth certificate, and my eligibility to vote required further paperwork to be presented on my behalf," he said. Although his case was resolved with help from friends, he expressed worry for others lacking such support, stating, "I worried about others who do not have so many loyal friends."
Underprivileged and Minority Communities at Risk of Exclusion
When asked about potential political beneficiaries of the SIR, Sen refrained from making definitive claims but mentioned that some believe the BJP might gain from under-accounting. He stressed, however, that the core issue is institutional responsibility. "The real point is that the EC should not insist on a faulty arrangement and force our proud democracy to commit an unnecessary error, no matter who benefits," he asserted.
Sen warned that the poor and underprivileged are most vulnerable to exclusion due to the documentation requirements. "The documents needed for being allowed into the new electoral roll are often difficult to obtain for the underdogs of society," he noted, adding that this creates a "class bias" against the indigent. He also flagged concerns about minority communities, including Indian Muslims and some Hindus, facing discrimination from Hindutva extremists.
Call for Institutional Action to Protect Voting Rights
Sen called on key institutions to safeguard voting rights, stating, "The EC and the Supreme Court must make sure that no adult Indian citizen has difficulty to qualify for voting." Expressing his desire to participate in the upcoming elections, he mentioned that logistics would determine his ability to vote, recalling a past instance where he traveled across three countries within 48 hours to cast his ballot in Santiniketan.
