Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Alleging large-scale irregularities in the ongoing SIR process in Cortalim, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC ) state convenor Mariano Rodrigues warned of an all-out legal battle, terming the exercise a “systematic ploy” to harass genuine voters and weaken democracy.
Calling it a direct attack on innocent citizens, Rodrigues said, “We will file an appeal immediately. If we are denied justice, we will move the High Court and, if necessary, approach the Supreme Court of India with the support of the party — even if it is for a single genuine voter of Cortalim constituency.”
He alleged that members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including karyakartas and booth-level agents, had submitted Form 7 applications seeking deletion of names of genuine voters, particularly from economically weaker sections. “Their intention was to target people from the lower strata of society. In several cases, names of long-settled Goan families with ancestral properties and farms have been recommended for deletion,” he claimed.
Rodrigues further alleged inconsistencies in the verification process. “There are instances where one member of a family continues on the electoral roll while parents or other members living in the same house have been deleted. How is that possible?” he questioned.
He cited cases of a serving police personnel and an Army man posted at the border whose names were allegedly removed. “If they are not residents, how were they appointed to government service? There is also a family of three persons with disabilities receiving government allowance, yet their names have been struck off,” he said.
Rodrigues said that he had also objected to the clarification venue being fixed at Cortalim instead of Zuarinagar, stating that nearly half the constituency’s voters reside in Zuarinagar and lack direct transport facilities. He alleged that repeated representations to authorities, including the Chief Election Commissioner, yielded no response.
“SIR is a threat to democracy. The remedies offered are merely eyewash. We will pursue every legal option within the stipulated seven days. If required, we will escalate the matter step by step up to the Supreme Court,” he asserted.
