"You mention her...don't apologise for it": Pawan Khera on voter list controversy involving 124-year-old Minta Devi from Bihar

"You mention her...don't apologise for it": Pawan Khera on voter list controversy involving 124-year-old Minta Devi from Bihar

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Congress leader Pawan Khera (Photo/ANI)

(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)

New Delhi [India], August 13 (ANI): Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday slammed Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for a voter list controversy involving 124-year-old Minta Devi from Bihar.

He questioned why Rijiju didnt apologise for the error in her voter list, highlighting the government alleged double standards.

You mention her as a 124-year-old in voter list and dont apologise for it. We, who are bringing your misdeeds out in the light, should apologise for it? This is a Government which handcuffs the person with whom a crime occurs and makes them apologise. They hug perpetrators, Khera told ANI.

The INDIA bloc MPs staged a protest in Parliament over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, wearing T-shirts to highlight their cause.

Earlier on Wednesday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in a post on X criticised Congress and opposition MPs for using the photo of Minta Devi during their protest, mocking her alleged age of 124 years on Bihar voter list, and asked if the party would apologise to the nation.

Rijiju remarks followed Minta Devi strong reaction from Siwan, Bihar, where she condemned the use of her image by the INDIA bloc MPs during the protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

He pointed out that Congress ministers in Karnataka have also accused their own party government of voter list irregularities, highlighting internal contradictions.

Rijiju wrote, Whole day Congress and opposition MPs used the photo of Minta Devi, mocked her that she is 124 years old! The Congress Minister in Karnataka has also accused his own Congress Government. Will Congress apologise to the nation?

In Siwan, Minta Devi said she came to know about the controversy only a few days ago and questioned the right of opposition leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to use her image on T-shirts without her consent.

She said, Who are they (Opposition MPs) to me? Who is Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi to me? Who gave them the right to wear t-shirts featuring me?

Devi stated that she was never contacted by administration officials and expressed her displeasure at being made the face of the controversy.

I think there are discrepancies (in the list). I did not get a phone call from anyone (from the administration). Why are they becoming my well-wisher over my age? This should not be done; I do not want this. I want my details to be corrected. Whoever entered the details, did they do so with their eyes closed? she said.

Devi noted, If I am 124 years old in the eyes of the government, why are they not giving me an old-age pension? My Aadhaar Card mentions 15-07-1990 as my date of birth.

The SIR issue has been a contentious point between the government and the opposition, with the latter demanding its withdrawal. The opposition claims that the SIR is being used to manipulate voter lists and disenfranchise certain groups.

The government, on the other hand, maintains that the SIR is a necessary process to ensure the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls. (ANI)

Disclaimer: This news article is a direct feed from ANI and has not been edited by the News Nation team. The news agency is solely responsible for its content.

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