E-Paper
Kang seeks special provisions for NRIs in electoral roll revision
MP Malvinder Singh Kang sent a letter to the Election Commission, expressing serious concerns about the exercise’s possible impact on NRI voters
Chandigarh
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member of Parliament (MP) from Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang has demanded special provisions for non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise, claiming that the process aimed at cleaning the electoral rolls risks inadvertently silencing the voice of lakhs of such voters.
The MP sent a letter to the Election Commission, expressing serious concerns about the exercise’s possible impact on NRI voters. “Anxiety is sweeping through this community. Many hold valid voter registrations in Punjab for years, even decades. However, the practical realities of life abroad make physical presence for verification extremely challenging,” he wrote, pointing to strict timelines and procedural requirements that could lead to deletion of their names.
Kang urged the poll panel to provide for online/digital verification for overseas voters holding valid electors photo identity cards (EPIC), extended timelines for document submission, facility for verification and attestation through Indian embassies and consulates worldwide, and dedicated NRI grievance redressal cells with fast-track resolution.
He further claimed that voters in Punjab were increasingly apprehensive about the electoral roll cleanup exercise. He said any large-scale deletion or exclusion of genuine voters due to procedural hurdles, documentation issues, or verification complications would deeply undermine democratic participation in the state.
