Genuine Indian voters will be enrolled in voters list: govt

Shillong, July 30 (UNI) The Meghalaya government today said genuine citizens would be considered for enrollment in the voter's list, and all efforts were being made to include them in the ongoing electoral roll revision exercise in the state.

Talking to reporters here today, East Khasi Hills District Magistrate B Dhar said the government had to be very cautious about the doubtful citizens attempt to include their names in the process of revision of electoral rolls.

Mr Dhar, also the electoral officer, said the district authority has detected more than 1000 such 'doubtful' citizens, especially from Nepal during the process of revision, saying people from Nepal can come, as no pass or visa is required, and do business, but would not be allowed to include their names in the voters list.

He said,however, those who were born and brought up here were eligible to enroll their names with sufficient proof.

He cited an example that a Nepali who is born and brought up here, was entitled to enroll himself but his wife who is a Nepali, may not be entitled unless she obtains for herself the citizenship.

He also urged all the genuine citizens whose names were not included, to file an application to the authorities concerned alongwith sufficient documents to prove themselves Indian citizens.

He said that an updated revision, most likely, will be done before the Assembly Election scheduled to be held in 2008 and efforts would be made to include those genuine citizens, whose names are not in the list.

Regarding the large number of ghost ration cards, he said on an earlier occasion, the cards were issued on the basis of recommendation of village heads and it was found that out of about 43,000 residents, about 53,000 cards were issued, which is abnormally high.

Now the new cards will be issued to only those residents who are having their names in the electoral rolls in order to check the bogus ration cards.

UNI