‘All sorted now’, but Congress cries ‘conspiracy’ after voter objection against Padma Shri musician

An objection filed during Gujarat’s Special Intensive Revision briefly cast doubt on Padma Shri awardee Mir Haji Kasam’s voter status before it was resolved. But Congress demands criminal complaint.

Gujarat-based dholak player Padma Shri Mir Haji Kasam | X@airnewsalerts

New Delhi: The eve of India’s 77th Republic Day was special for Gujarat-based dholak player Mir Haji Kasam, also known as Haji Ramakdu. He was going to be honoured with the Padma Shri for popularising Gujarati folk music across the world.

But there was a hitch. A complaint had been filed in his hometown Junagadh, against his inclusion in the voter rolls. However, the authorities acted swiftly and “everything is sorted now”, Kasam told ThePrint.

But even though the issue has died down now, the Congress is using the opportunity to attack the BJP. Alleging a conspiracy behind the filing of the objection, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Dr Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia said, “a criminal complaint should be filed against them (those who filed the objection) for giving false information to snatch the rights of genuine voters.”

The objection had been filed by BJP Junagadh Municipal Corporation member Sanjay Manvar on 13 January, months after Kasam was nominated for the award.

Filed during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Gujarat, the objection came via a Form 7, which allows people to object to the inclusion of a name or to seek deletion of any person’s name in the electoral roll due to “death/shifting”. In Kasam’s case, the objection was filed on the ground that he was “absent/permanently migrated”. ThePrint has seen the form.

ThePrint reached out to Manvar, but he refused to comment on the issue.

Kasam told ThePrint over a phone call: “My name was a little different in one of the documents, so there was some confusion, but it has been rectified now.”

“We didn’t have to go to any office… 2-3 officials came home around 8 or 9 am… Everybody was really helpful through it,” he said.

But for the Congress, the controversy is still alive. Kathwadia said: “In Gujarat, there is a conspiracy to snatch the rights of people in an organised manner by the BJP. The Padma Shri awardee is an eminent citizen of Gujarat, who has enhanced the glory of Gujarat. Even they were targeted and an attempt was made to snatch away their rights.”

He pointed out that Form 7 has a declaration attached to it. This declaration requires the applicant to say that he or she believes the facts mentioned in the form to be true and that making a statement which is false is punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of People Act 1950.

Section 31 states, if any person makes a statement in writing, “which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true” in connection with the preparation, revision or correction of an electoral roll, or the inclusion or exclusion of any entry in or from an electoral roll… Such a person can be punished with a one year long imprisonment or fine or both.”

“So now if a Form 7 has been filed against Padma Shri Hajibhai… a criminal complaint should be filed against them for giving false information to snatch the rights of genuine voters,” Kathwadia said.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)