Former Election Commissioner OP Rawat has reacted to the ongoing debate around the Election Commission and SIR process. He said voters feel scared because of SIR, which he described as unfortunate for democracy.
Speaking to news agency PTI on Wednesday, Rawat said the current situation appears deeply disappointing. He added that such circumstances rarely occurred during his time at the Election Commission.
Moreover, Rawat explained that decisions earlier came through consensus. He said officials maintained unity whenever differences emerged during discussions.
Public Trust In Institution Is Declining, Says Rawat
According to OP Rawat, public confidence in the Election Commission appears to be weakening completely. He said people trusted the institution for fair and reliable elections.
However, Rawat claimed SIR created a situation where voters feel worried everywhere. He compared the process to a “Frankenstein” created by the institution.
Furthermore, he said such developments remain very unfortunate for democracy. Rawat also commented on allegations involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
He stated that respected election commissioners should not have waited for ten months. Instead, they could have publicly raised concerns immediately.
Rawat Raises Questions Over Election Decisions
Rawat said the Election Commission provides complete independence to its members. Therefore, officials can express concerns openly if they notice problems.
Meanwhile, he referred to questions raised by the court regarding EVM usage. The court questioned how EVMs operated at 50 polling stations.
Following this, authorities cancelled elections at those locations. The court ordered fresh voting through ballot papers.
Additionally, Rawat criticised changes made in Form 6. He described these changes as completely wrong, improper, and unlawful.
