One crore voters' names are likely to get omitted during SIR in Tamil Nadu: Thol Thirumavalavan

COIMBATORE: Nearly one crore voters' names are likely to get omitted in the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu, as it happened in Bihar where 43 lakh people's names were omitted from the list, said Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan on Saturday.Addressing reporters at Coimbatore International Airport, Thirumavalavan said opposition parties are expected to raise their strong objections to the SIR, being carried out in 12 states, in the upcoming winter session of the Parliament.He said VCK would demand a debate on the SIR in the Parliament. “Nearly 25 booth level officers across the country have taken the extreme step of taking their own lives because of the stressful work since the SIR began,” he said. “The Union govt, via the Election Commission, is trying to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. All 13 documents listed for verification as per the SIR enumeration form are linked to the citizenship of an individual. EC's usual summary revision also includes the removal or inclusion of names in the electoral roll,” he added.Thirumavalavan said his party would raise its voice in Parliament regarding the rejection of the Coimbatore and Madurai metro rail projects. He said India should urge the Sri Lankan govt to ensure a political solution for the Eelam Tamils.Commenting on the former AIADMK leader K A Sengottaiyan joining actor Vijay’s TVK, he said, "Senior leaders like Sengottaiyan leaving AIADMK is not good for the party. Further, I presume a strategic play was rolled by BJP, compelling AIADMK into a critical state. BJP, as an alliance, did not take any step towards uniting the senior leaders. Why is BJP letting its alliance party members drift away and not acting upon it?"