Uddhav Thackeray slams EC over SIR, calls it 'undeclared NRC'

MUMBAI: Uddhav Thackeray has slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision ( SIR) exercise, alleging it is an 'undeclared' implementation of the National Register of Citizens ( NRC).

"The EC is asking voters to come forward and prove their identity under the SIR drive. This is nothing but an undeclared NRC being implemented across the country. When the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC were being introduced, there were massive protests in Delhi and Assam. Even then, people were asked to prove their identity. So now, the EC must clarify whether the NRC is being implemented or not. Let's see what the Supreme Court says," said Thackeray, who is currently in Delhi for the INDIA opposition bloc meeting.

He took a swipe at the EC, accusing it of conducting non-transparent elections. "We already had concerns over EVMs, and now the EC in Maharashtra says local body elections will be held without VVPAT machines. What's the point of holding elections, then? Just declare the winners and be done with it," he remarked.

The UBT Sena chief also questioned the abrupt removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, asking, "Why was he removed in such a hurry? And where is he now?"