From Kerala to Delhi to Mumbai, what Biharis think of Bihar—I witness

Which forces want these names in voters list? Which parties benefited from it? Which party and family created a system keeping such names in the voters’ lists for decades? Why was SIR not held regularly all these decades? Nation wants answers: BL SANTOSH BJP general secretary (Organisation) NEW DELHI: Amid a row over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, BJP on Friday stepped up its defence of the exercise by citing large-scale anomalies which are behind a big chunk of notices and targeted the Opposition for turning a legitimate process into an issue.Citing data, a combative BJP general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh said less than nine months’ difference among siblings is behind 6.4% of the notices issued in Delhi, while 2.5% pertain to the gap between the age of voter and parents being more than 50 years.He said 5% of notices were triggered as difference between the age of voter and parent is less than 15 years, while 4.2% notices stemmed from someone having six or more children.In 2.3% of cases, difference between the age of voter and grandparents is less than 40 years, Santhosh pointed out. He said, “Are you wondering why there’s so much political storm over SIR? These are reasons. Which forces want these names to remain in the voters list? Which parties benefited from this voters’ list all these years? Which party and family created a system which kept such names in voters’ lists for decades? Why was SIR not held regularly all these decades? Nation wants answers for these.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”The aggressive response, though in keeping with BJP’s stand that poll rolls needed to be cleansed to strike off illegal immigrants, the deceased and the doubly registered, stood out because it coincided with Opposition’s attack on CEC Gyanesh Kumar for allegedly making decisions unilaterally about SIR which, according to it, is aimed at manipulating voter lists.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data Shows123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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​SIR row reaches SC: Plea targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar, seeks Form 6 restoration As questions are being raised against CEC Gyanesh Kumar for allegedly unilaterally taking many decisions pertaining to the SIR drive, a Supreme Court lawyer has filed a petition in court seeking his criminal prosecution, and another has approached the attorney general, seeking his permission, as required under the law, to file a contempt petition against him.The petition filed in SC said action needed to be taken against the chief election commissioner for his “unilateral, unauthorised, and illegal decisions” taken in the name of EC. It referred to Section 18 of Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, and the law laid down by a constitution bench in the TN Seshan case in 1995 to say EC’s decisions mandatorily had to be taken by the majority.EC has maintained that all the decisions regarding special intensive revision of electoral rolls were taken unanimously by Kumar and his two colleagues, election commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.The petition filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, echoing claims made in a news report, sought quashing of unauthorised modifications made to Form 6 on ECINet/ERONet portals requiring ancestry/last-SIR declarations, and also sought immediate restoration of the statutory Form 6 as prescribed under Registration of Electors Rules to permit all eligible adults to register as voters on the basis of original statutory requirements.Mentioning the alleged illegal acts of CEC, the petition said, “Introducing a mandatory ancestral condition (last SIR linkage) for first-time young voters without legislative authority or amendment of Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, was explicitly branded as unauthorised and illegal by a majority of the commission.”The petition said depriving decentralised electoral registration officers of their statutory authority under sections 13B, 22 and 23 of Representation of the People Act, 1950, and centralising electoral roll management under the director general of IT in Delhi was another wrong.”Tampering with the electoral roll constitutes a cognisable offence under Section 32 of RP Act, 1950, as well as provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning falsification of records and public servants disobeying directions of law. In such a scenario, divested of any statutory or constitutional immunity, CEC remains directly accountable under the law – subject to police investigation, evidence gathering, and regular trial proceedings as an ordinary accused,” the petition said, adding CEC could not claim immunity for illegal acts.It said CEC’s act of deliberately manipulating the electoral roll bore no “reasonable nexus” or legal connection to his official duties and fell squarely outside the ambit of official immunity and constituted distinct, personal criminal liability.Another apex court advocate, Shiv Kumar Tripathi, wrote to the attorney general, bringing to his notice the “constitutional misconduct and contempt of court” by CEC and sought his approval to file a contempt case against him.”SC has repeatedly emphasised EC’s independence, impartiality and institutional integrity. CEC’s office is one of constitutional primacy, but it is not intended to function as an authority overriding the equal constitutional status of other election commissioners in collective decision-making. Any departure from this constitutional framework may undermine public confidence in free and fair election,” Tripathi said in his letter.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”I therefore respectfully request your good office to examine whether the reported conduct amounts to wilful disregard of binding judicial principles or directions of the Supreme Court, thereby attracting proceedings under Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, if legally sustainable,” the letter said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data Shows123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends ‘Bhajan Clubbing’ on the occasion of Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary, at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Park in New Delhi on Friday. (DD News) NEW DELHI: Mixing modern trends with tradition, PM Narendra Modi Friday evening attended a ‘bhajan clubbing’ at a park named after BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay to pay him tributes on his 116th birth anniversary.Attended by a young cohort, whose embrace of bhajan clubbing has made it a big trend, especially among the urban youth, across the country, the event drew praise from Modi.”Bhajan Clubbing in Delhi. Spectacular,” he said of the event, which saw a live performance by a band.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesBhajan clubbing has a concert-like feel and hosts devotional songs, with its popularity shining a light on the growing traction of religiosity in the younger demography, who has chosen to shape it in its own style.Modi’s participation marks his continuous engagement with the Gen Z crowd at a time when his political opponents are trying hard to woo them as well.He had spoken about this at his Mann Ki Baat broadcast in Jan, saying the young generation has adapted devotion to their lifestyle.This mindset has given rise to a new cultural trend, he had said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data Shows123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

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PM tells cadre not to focus only on vote banks NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday asked BJP members to draw inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi to blend social reforms with their political work instead of focusing on vote bank politics.”When we look at Mahatma Gandhi’s life, we see he fought against the British and led the freedom movement. But he was also a great social reformer. He always worked against social evils. We as political workers too should not merely focus on vote-bank politics and allow things to continue as they are. We must continue working for social reforms,” he said.He was interacting virtually with participants of “Seva Yatra”, a motorcyle rally from Varanasi to Vadnagar organised by BJP to mark his 76th birthday and his continuous stint of 25 years as head of govt.Modi drew from his own experience as a frequent traveller across the length and breadth of India and said it has deeply enriched his life and values. “The message of service should be spread not merely by our words but action,” he said, highlighting the felicitation of sanitation workers and other service-oriented programmes to make his point. Serving people is serving the country, he said, adding that BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay, whose birth anniversary fell on Friday, put serving people at the core of his ideology.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe praised those who carried out the cleanliness work in Prayagraj, noting that their efforts made the ‘Kumbh Mela’ famous worldwide for sanitation and elevated India’s honour.”So, I felt compelled to wash the feet of those who have enhanced India’s honour so much, to seek their blessings,” he said.Modi also said over the past 12 years, the gap between cities and villages in India has significantly narrowed and infrastructure in villages has improved to a great extent. He said self-reliance among women has also increased in the country.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data Shows123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court

Vamsikrishna52 minutes ago 0