Shillong, March 16: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has urged the Government of India and the Election Commission of India to immediately conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Meghalaya to ensure that only genuine Indian citizens are eligible to participate in elections in the State.
CoMSO stated that Meghalaya, being a sensitive border state, has for long faced serious concerns over illegal immigration, infiltration, and the possible inclusion of non-citizens and other ineligible persons in the electoral rolls.
The organisation said that such a situation poses a grave threat to the sanctity of the electoral process and to the political, constitutional, and demographic rights of the indigenous tribal people of Meghalaya.
According to CoMSO, the purity of the electoral rolls is fundamental to free, fair, and credible elections, and any failure to verify and cleanse doubtful or illegal entries would seriously undermine democracy and public confidence in the electoral system.
In its representation, CoMSO has called upon the authorities to undertake a strict, transparent, lawful, and time-bound verification of the electoral rolls across Meghalaya, with particular focus on border districts, infiltration-prone areas, and migration-affected constituencies.
It further urged that all illegal immigrants, non-citizens, doubtful voters, and other ineligible persons be identified and removed from the rolls in accordance with law, while ensuring that genuine Indian citizens are not harassed, wrongfully excluded, or disenfranchised during the process.
CoMSO maintained that the demand for a Special Intensive Revision is not merely an administrative necessity but a democratic imperative to protect the integrity of elections and safeguard the future of the indigenous people of the State.
The organisation, therefore, appealed to the Government of India and the Election Commission of India to act without delay and initiate necessary steps in the larger interest of justice, democracy, and the protection of Meghalaya’s indigenous rights, said Mr Roy Kupar Synrem Chairman, CoMSO.
