Owaisi warns of Jantar Mantar 2.0 in Hyderabad if Form 7 misused against Muslims

Addressing an Islamic religious gathering, the Hyderabad MP said the Election Commission should take action against concerned persons if 'false' Form 7 applications were being filed.

In Short

• Owaisi urges EC to act against 'false' Form 7 applications
• He accuses BJP of removing Muslim voters using Form 7
• 92 lakh voters received notices across Telangana during SIR

AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi has warned of massive protests in Hyderabad if Form 7 is misused during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.

Addressing an Islamic religious gathering at Milad Maidan in the city on Saturday, October 3, the parliamentarian said the Election Commission (EC) should take action against concerned persons if "false" Form 7 applications were being filed.

He said that if the names of genuine Muslim voters were struck off merely on the basis of their religion, Hyderabad would witness protests bigger than those seen in Delhi earlier this year.

"If false Form 7 are being filed, we appeal to the Election Commission to take action against those responsible. If this drama does not stop, remember: protests bigger than those at Delhi's Jantar Mantar will take place on the roads and streets of Hyderabad, and it will create a lot of trouble for you. [AIMIM] will not remain silent," Owaisi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Form 7 is an application form for filing objections to the proposed inclusion or deletion of a name from the existing electoral rolls.

Owaisi alleged that the BJP and the wider "Sangh Parivar" were misusing Form 7 applications to remove the names of Muslims en masse from final electoral rolls.

He said, "Printed Form 7 are being submitted where the name of the person whose name is to be deleted is mentioned, but the name and details of the person filing the form are not being provided. If this is happening, it is completely wrong."

"If the Election Commission turns a blind eye and gives BJP people a free hand to remove the names of Muslims, we will not allow that to happen," the Hyderabad MP added.

The remarks come amid widespread protests by opposition parties and youth-led movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over SIR across India.

TELANGANA SIR: FINAL ROLLS BEING PREPARED

On Thursday, October 1, Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C Sudharshan Reddy said that about 54 lakh of the 92 lakh voters issued notices during the SIR process in the state had been included in the electoral rolls.

"Out of 92 lakh, nearly 54 lakh have been brought under the main electoral roll. This process will continue till November 5. The collection of documents from the remaining nearly 40 lakh will be completed, and they will be brought into the main roll, except those who have migrated or died. Such people may not enter the main roll," he had stated.

In August, EC officials had said that about 92 lakh voters would be issued notices over anomalies in their electoral records or the failure to link their details with the 2002 rolls during the ongoing exercise.

- Ends
(With inputs from agencies)