Special intensive revision of polls: refuse to show your documents to EC officials, says Rabri Devi

Former chief minister Rabri Devi on Saturday, 5 July, asked the people of Bihar to "refuse" to show any documents, other than their voter ID cards, when poll officials turn up at their place as part of the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in the state.

Rabri Devi came up with this suggestion during her brief address at the Rashtriya Janata Dal's national council meeting to mark its 28th foundation day.

"People from across the state are present here. I advise them not to show any documents other than their voter ID cards. Refuse when asked to do so," she said.

Rabri Devi said the demand for submission of fresh documents is unjustified. "The authorities want the people to show the birth certificates of their parents. How will a person, who might have lost all his family members long back, come up with such a proof of identity?" asked the Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Council.

"Governments at the Centre and in the state have put the country up for sale. They have now hatched a conspiracy to deprive the poor of their voting rights with the Bihar assembly election which is less than three months away," alleged Rabri Devi.

"The intensive revision was last held more than 20 years ago. For 11 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in power, and no need was felt for the exercise until now and suddenly they want to complete it in a month," she said.

The meeting, held at the sprawling Bapu Sabhagar auditorium in Patna, was attended by thousands of party workers, besides top leaders, including Prasad's son Tejashwi Yadav.

Delegates from far-off places, including Kerala unit chief M.V. Shreyams Kumar, were also present.

The meeting also saw her husband, Lalu Prasad, the party founder and former Bihar chief minister, receiving a certificate of getting re-elected as national president for the 13th time, in addition to the authorisation to re-constitute the RJD national executive.

(With PTI inputs)