New Delhi: ‘Dog Babu’, a canine in Patna, was listed as a resident of Masaurhi with a residence certificate, prompting the Opposition to fire fresh salvos at the Election Commission for its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls exercise in Bihar.
In a tweet late Sunday night, Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav had flagged the certificate, saying, “See it with your own eyes! On July 24 in Bihar, a dog got a residence certificate issued. This is the same certificate that is being accepted in Bihar under SIR, while Aadhaar and ration cards are being called fake.”
Yadav had pointed out that in the certificate, the dog’s name was written as ‘Dog Babu’, mother’s name was mentioned as ‘Kutiya Babu’, and father’s name was mentioned as ‘Kutta Babu.’
Residence certificate is one of the 11 documents that have been listed by the Election Commission as one of the documents acceptable for its SIR exercise in Bihar. This list has been controversial because it does not include the Aadhaar card, the ration card, or the voter ID card.
While the Supreme Court had suggested that EC consider these documents as well for the exercise, the poll panel in its submission earlier this month had submitted that it cannot accept these three documents as standalone documents for the exercise.
In response to Yadav’s tweet, the District Administration of Patna said that such a case had in fact come to light, and the residence certificate has since been cancelled.
Additionally, it said that an FIR is being registered at the local police station against the applicant, the computer operator, and the officer who issued the certificate.
“The Sub-Divisional Officer, Masaurhi, has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation of the entire matter and submit a report within 24 hours. Departmental and disciplinary action will be taken against the guilty employees and officers,” the district administration’s posted Monday morning on X.
Patna District Magistrate Thiyagarajan told reporters on Monday that he suspected the role of “mischievous” elements behind the issuance of this certificate, and called the matter “very serious”
‘Dogs can vote now’
The issue has already been latched onto by critics of the exercise as well as the Opposition, pointing to the loopholes in the SIR exercise.
Congress Kerala Twitter handle took up the issue Monday, pointing out that while ‘Dog Babu’ was registered as a valid resident, “the Election Commission has removed 77 lakh genuine voters even though they have Aadhaar, Voters ID and Ration Card.”
“The dog will appear and vote for BJP. Perhaps they’ll make Dog Babu candidate also all BJP Karyakartas will vote for him. This is naked manipulation of the electoral system by BJP with an unscrupulous @ECISVEEP which is working as a criminal syndicate. The courts are by-standers and blessing the carnage of democracy with their silence (sic),” it posted on X.
Congress Kerala shared another meme, saying that while East India Company said Dogs and Indians were not allowed, “Indians still not allowed, but dogs can vote now”.
(Edited by Tony Rai)