Owaisi Urges Telangana Govt to Issue Residence Certificates During SIR

Amid Telangana's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has urged the state government to immediately issue Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) to residents, arguing that thousands of poor families could otherwise struggle to prove their eligibility during the voter verification process.

Speaking through a video message shared on social media platform X, Owaisi said the Revanth Reddy government should act proactively rather than wait for complaints after the publication of the revised voter lists. He stressed that the burden of documentation falls disproportionately on economically weaker sections, many of whom lack formal records despite being long-time residents.

According to Owaisi, AIMIM legislators have been receiving a steady stream of requests from people who do not possess the documents required for various government procedures. He said several poor families fear they may face difficulties during the ongoing electoral roll revision exercise because they are unable to produce proof of residence or other supporting records.

Drawing a comparison with Karnataka , where the Congress government has moved to provide permanent residence certificates to residents during a similar voter roll revision exercise, Owaisi questioned why Telangana has not adopted the same approach. He argued that issuing PRCs would simplify verification and help prevent genuine voters from being excluded due to documentation hurdles.

The Hyderabad MP also called on Telangana's BJP leaders, including Union ministers from the state, to persuade the Election Commission of India (ECI) to consider a wider range of documents for voter verification. He suggested that commonly available records such as PAN cards, driving licences and Food Security Cards should be accepted to ensure that eligible citizens are not disadvantaged.

Owaisi did not spare the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) either. He said the party, which governed Telangana for a decade, should formally approach the Election Commission and seek relaxation of document requirements that are difficult for many residents to obtain. Instead of limiting itself to criticism, the opposition should work towards practical solutions, he added.

Highlighting the broader issue of documentation poverty, Owaisi cited national data showing that a significant proportion of economically weaker households lack essential records such as birth certificates, caste certificates and residence certificates . In contrast, documentation levels are considerably higher among wealthier families, creating an uneven playing field when official verification processes are undertaken.

He warned that the absence of paperwork should not become a reason for depriving citizens of their constitutional right to vote . The focus, he said, must remain on ensuring that every eligible voter is included in the electoral rolls while preventing genuine residents from being excluded because of bureaucratic barriers.

The remarks come at a time when political parties and civil society groups are closely watching the voter roll revision process, with concerns being raised about documentation requirements and the need to ensure that no eligible voter is left behind.