SIR: Booth-level officers to boycott work on Nov 17 following official's death in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The SIR of the electoral roll in Kerala is likely to be disrupted on Monday as various trade unions, including those representing government employees, announced that booth-level officers across the state will boycott work following the suicide of an official in Kannur.
The work boycott was announced by the Action Council of State Government Employees and Teachers, the Joint Committee of Teacher Service Organisations, and the Kerala NGO Association on Sunday.
In a statement, the trade unions said BLOs across the state would abstain from work on Monday.
Joint protest marches are also planned at the office of the Kerala Chief Electoral Officer and at collectorates in all districts.
The organisations alleged that BLOs are under severe pressure due to the Special Intensive Revision process and duties related to the upcoming local body elections.
Although all political parties and service organisations demanded that the SIR be postponed, the Election Commission reportedly refused.
"Instead, it imposed an unrealistic workload with high targets in a very short period. This pressure is pushing BLOs toward suicide," the statement said.
The Kerala NGO Association also announced protest marches to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office and collectorates across the state. Association leaders said the SIR process should be stopped immediately to prevent further suicides.
According to the association, BLOs are being forced to work day and night to revise a voters’ list that was published 23 years ago, without being given sufficient time. They warned that further agitations would be organised in the coming days if an immediate solution is not found.
Aneesh George, 44, a BLO in Payyannur, Kannur, was found hanging in his house on Sunday. Family members and residents alleged that he took the extreme step due to work-related pressure linked to the SIR.
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, said George’s death should be thoroughly probed, as BLOs are facing excessive workloads.
He urged the Election Commission and the state government to conduct a proper inquiry and provide a clear explanation.
"SIR was initiated by the central government. The ongoing process is more intensive than even the preparations for the Assembly elections," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
PM, Shah lied to nation on Women's Bill, tried replicating 'Assam, JK' model, alleges Rahul in TN
Ranipet (Tamil Nadu) (PTI): Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah "lied" to the nation claiming they were attempting to pass a bill for women's quota.
However, hidden behind such a claim was a "diabolic idea" of bid to change the nation's electoral map and weaken states. What was attempted was an "anti-national act and it was against the union of states," he alleged.
The BJP-led government transformed the electoral map of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir and they intend doing it in the rest of the country as well, he alleged.
Addressing his second election rally in this northern Tamil Nadu town, located about 120 km from Chennai, Gandhi spoke on the Constitution amendment bill that was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
"Yesterday, you might have seen what PM Modi, and Home Miniser Amit Shah were trying to do in Parliament. They told the nation a lie, they said they were trying to pass a bill for women's representation. But hidden behind thatbill was a diabolic idea," he alleged.
Also, he claimed that PM Modi and Shah wanted to change the electoral map of the country.
He alleged: "They wanted to change no of seats that each state gets. They wanted to weaken south Indian states, weaken north eastern states and weaken smaller states...what the BJP was trying to do yesterday was an anti-national act and it was against the union of states."
The entire opposition stood like a rock and defeated the BJP's "nefarious design." The BJP is attacking the democratic foundations of India, he said adding they were using delimitation as a political weapon.
He alleged: "They have transformed the electoral map of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir and they want to do that to the rest of the country. Their main idea is to attack your (Tamil) history, culture, language and tradition." Furthermore, he alleged that the people have already seen PM Modi attacking the Constitution.
"In the Constitution, it is clearly written India that is Bharat is a union of states. that means that every state has to have a voice. "
He said the TN Assembly election was about stopping BJP-RSS from capturing Tamil Nadu.
On Saturday, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha launched his campaign in Tamil Nadu for the April 23 polls from Ponneri. The Congress is a part of the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and is contesting from 28 seats.
