Former Foreign Secretary and BJP MP Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla strongly defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Parliament, describing it as a necessary step to protect the credibility of India’s democratic process, with specific reference to West Bengal. Speaking during the discussion, Shringla said elections form the backbone of democracy and any compromise with voter verification weakens public trust. He stressed that the SIR is not a routine administrative exercise but a constitutionally mandated process to ensure that only genuine and eligible citizens are included in electoral rolls.
Referring to developments in West Bengal, including areas around Kolkata, the MP raised concerns over resistance to the verification drive. He questioned why a transparent exercise meant to strengthen elections was being opposed by certain political parties. Shringla also pointed out that the Supreme Court has taken note of attempts to obstruct the SIR process and has clearly upheld the constitutional authority of the Election Commission of India.
He added that proper verification helps prevent fake or illegal entries, ensuring that the votes of genuine citizens are not diluted. Linking the exercise to institutional strength, Shringla said clean electoral rolls are essential for free and fair elections. He urged all stakeholders in West Bengal to cooperate with the Election Commission and support reforms that safeguard democratic integrity.