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🇮🇳 India /Elections & Politics

'Trouble proving citizenship after representing India in 3 countries': Ex-envoy to ECI over Punjab SIR

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Former Indian diplomat Navdeep Singh Suri questioned the Election Commission of India's revision process after being asked to prove his citizenship.
  • Suri, who served as ambassador to the UAE, Egypt, and Australia, stated he had trouble establishing his Indian citizenship despite representing the country abroad.
  • The incident occurred as Punjab concluded its electoral roll revision with high participation, though the deputy commissioner promised to investigate Suri's complaint.

A former Indian diplomat has raised concerns about the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, recounting his own difficulties in proving his citizenship. Navdeep Singh Suri, who previously served as India's ambassador to the UAE and Egypt, and high commissioner to Australia, said he was asked to establish his Indian citizenship despite his extensive service representing the nation abroad.

Dear ECI, sharing my experience with SIR in Punjab. Went to BLO, submitted Voter ID and Aadhaar card, was assured that everything is in order. Got a message today from a volunteer saying some details don’t match with SIR in 2003.

— Navdeep Singh SuriDescribing his initial interaction with the electoral revision process.

Suri shared his experience on social media platform X, detailing how he submitted his Voter ID and Aadhaar card to the Booth Level Officer (BLO). He was initially assured everything was in order but later received a message stating some details did not match the 2003 records. The BLO then requested unspecified documents to prove his citizenship, including his passport, as he was not in India in 2003.

"If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what is the fate of the common citizen?" Suri questioned, highlighting the potential challenges faced by ordinary citizens. He sarcastically remarked on the "Ease of Living."

I replied that I was not in India in 2003, so they have asked for my passport as proof.

— Navdeep Singh SuriExplaining the specific documentation requested from him.

Amritsar deputy commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh stated he would investigate the matter. The ECI, Punjab government, and the central government had not issued official statements regarding Suri's complaint at the time of reporting. This situation arises as Punjab recently concluded its house-to-house enumeration phase for electoral roll revision, with over 90% of registered electors participating.

If I have trouble establishing my citizenship after representing India in three countries, what is the fate of the common citizen? Ease of Living, I presume!

— Navdeep Singh SuriExpressing concern about the process for ordinary citizens.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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