Former Election Commissioner, Ashok Lavasa, IAS (retd.), says the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar was “abrupt, aggressive and ambitious” and “avoidable” at this point in time. Answering a range of questions over the controversy the exercise generated, he says that it is for the Commission to clarify the procedure it will adopt for the nationwide SIR. Excerpts:
Preetha Nair: What is your opinion about Bihar SIR?
I have gone on record to say that this particular exercise was, in my opinion, abrupt, aggressive, and ambitious. And because of all three reasons, I said that it was avoidable at this point in time. And the reason why I said these three things can be understood if you look at three perspectives. What was the purpose