A stormy session unfolded in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly as opposition lawmakers launched a sharp attack on the state's BJP government over the tragic deaths of ten Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The Congress and Samajwadi Party legislators alleged that the officials succumbed to the immense pressure of the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, sparking a heated confrontation with the treasury benches.
Heated Debate Under Rule 56
The issue was brought to the floor under Rule 56 of the UP assembly, leading to a passionate and contentious debate. The opposition cornered the government, questioning its duty of care towards the ground-level officials tasked with the crucial democratic exercise of updating voter lists.
Congress Legislative Party Leader and senior MLA Aradhana Mishra 'Mona' expressed deep shock and dismay that the state administration had not formally acknowledged the deaths of the BLOs while they were on active duty. "They were facing extreme pressure from their higher-ups," she charged, holding the system directly responsible for the fatalities.
Demands for Compensation and Training Lapses
Mishra vehemently demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the family of each deceased officer. She further highlighted systemic failures, stating that many BLOs were deployed without receiving proper training, which severely hampered their performance and added to their stress.
Echoing the concerns, SP legislator Manoj Kumar Paras questioned the government's rushed timeline for the revision process. He noted that updating electoral rolls was a routine exercise conducted in the past as well, but it was always spread over a reasonable period. "Why is the government in a hurry to complete the process in just one month?" he asked, demanding an even higher compensation of Rs 1 crore for each affected family.
Government Under Fire
The opposition's unified stand put the ruling dispensation on the defensive, forcing them to respond to serious allegations of negligence and undue haste. The core accusation is that the intense workload and short deadlines of the SIR exercise created unsustainable working conditions, leading to the deaths.
The debate underscores a significant crisis in the administrative machinery at the grassroots level. It raises critical questions about the welfare of government employees involved in high-pressure tasks and the protocols followed during large-scale national exercises like voter list revisions. The demand for substantial compensation sets a precedent for how such cases might be handled in the future.
