The man who once carried the weight of the nation’s security on his shoulders, fought bravely in the 1971 war, and was honoured with the Vir Chakra, former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, has now been subjected to harassment under the SIR. The Election Commission has summoned the 82-year-old veteran and his 78-year-old wife as part of the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists.
To prove that they are legitimate voters of the country, they will have to travel 18 kilometres to appear. And this won't happen in one day either – they will have to go for two days.
With such an incident involving a former military chief himself, that question arises again – are there major flaws in the intensive revision of voter lists or the SIR process?
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This incident occurred during the revision of voter lists in Goa. Though expressing anger over the Commission's role, Admiral Prakash is unwilling to take any special privileges. He has informed on social media that they have been called for a hearing even after their names appeared in the draft list.
His question is that the Booth Level Officer, i.e., BLO, has come to his house three times. Even after this, why couldn't the necessary information be collected? His clear statement is, "If the SIR form fails to collect necessary information, then that form should be revised."
This comment by the former Commanding Officer of INS Virat has directly pointed fingers at the Commission's working methods. A section of netizens is saying that if a high-profile and aware citizen like the former Navy Chief gets caught in bureaucratic tangles, one can imagine what condition ordinary people are facing.
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Many on social media are taking his side and severely criticising the Commission. Many are saying that in such cases, the Commission should send people to homes. However, the Admiral has said, "After retirement, I have not taken any special facilities or privileges for the past 20 years, nor is there any need."
He and his wife will attend on the designated day following the Commission's notice, like any other ordinary citizens. However, critics are saying that this incident has exposed the Commission's data inconsistencies and lack of coordination.
