Siwan: Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc staged a protest on Tuesday, 12 August, within the Parliament premises, wearing white T-shirts printed with the slogan "Minta Devi 124 Not Out.
Citing data from the Election Commission of India (ECI), Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, highlighted the case of Minta Devi, a first-time registered voter from the Daraundha Assembly seat in Bihar's Siwan Lok Sabha constituency.
According to her registration details, Minta Devi's date of birth is recorded as 15 July 1900, making her, at least on paper, 124 years old. Gandhi presented her case as an example while alleging voter list manipulation in the state, following the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted in Bihar.
Minta Devi Reacts
35-year-old Minta Devi has now reacted to the protest by the India alliance. "I came to know about this 2-4 days back...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?...I think there are discrepancies (in list)...I did not get anyone's (from administration) phone call...Why are they becoming my well-wisher over my age?"
She further said, "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?...If I am 124-years-old in the eyes of Govt, why are they not giving me old age pension? My Aadhaar Card mentions 15-07-1990 as my date of birth."
Minta Devi was one of the voters who appeared in Rahul Gandhi's list of electors, which he presented as proof to allege 'vote theft' by the ECI.
How The Blunder Happened?
Reportedly, her date of birth has been erroneously recorded in the voter ID card as 1900 insted of her actual date of birth which is 1990 on Aadhaar.
