The Uttar Pradesh Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Tuesday as the Opposition raised the critical issue of deaths among Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during a recent electoral roll revision exercise. Demanding an immediate debate, opposition legislators called for government jobs to be provided to the families of the deceased officers and alleged serious lapses in the process.
Allegations of Haste and Undue Pressure
Raising the matter during the third day of the winter session, Congress MLA Aradhana Mishra questioned the government's urgency. She pointed out that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll was given a tight deadline of less than three weeks. "What was the hurry, given the expanse of the state and its population?" Mishra asked. She alleged that "undue pressure" was exerted on the BLOs, who were already managing their regular duties, leading to tragic consequences. Mishra also claimed the state government had failed to formally acknowledge these deaths.
Compensation and Serious Accusations
Joining the attack, Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator Manoj Paras leveled a grave accusation. He claimed the revision drive was not just administrative but a targeted effort to delete voter names based on caste and religion. Paras demanded a substantial compensation of Rs 1 crore for each bereaved family, amplifying the call for justice and support.
The key demands from the opposition benches included:
- A thorough legislative debate on the circumstances leading to the BLO deaths.
- Provision of government jobs to the next of kin of the deceased officers.
- High compensation for the affected families and a transparent investigation.
Government's Rebuttal and Clarification
Responding to the charges, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna dismissed the allegations as rumours. He clarified that the electoral roll revision is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India and not directly by the state government. "Every election officer on deputation during this time period is as per the existing rules," Khanna stated.
While expressing condolences for the deaths, the minister emphasized that the exact reason behind the fatalities is still a matter of investigation. This response aimed to deflect direct blame from the state administration while acknowledging the unfortunate incidents.
The debate underscores the intense political friction in Uttar Pradesh, especially around electoral processes. It brings to light the working conditions of grassroots election officials and sets the stage for continued confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition on matters of governance and accountability.
