NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and accused opposition parties of politicising the exercise following electoral setbacks. Tensions were high in Delhi with seveeral protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Addressing a press conference on Saturday, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad cited the Supreme Court’s handling of challenges to the SIR process and alleged that the opposition was seeking to build a narrative that India’s democracy was under threat.Prasad said several opposition parties had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the SIR process.“To challenge the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and several other parties approached the Supreme Court. Even some of those so-called ‘jhola-chaap’ individuals, also went along,” he said.Referring to the court proceedings, Prasad added, “The Supreme Court heard these petitions repeatedly, and what has it ultimately said? That the SIR process will continue.”He also referred to the deployment of judicial officers to oversee aspects of the electoral process in West Bengal following objections raised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.Prasad alleged that judicial officers faced misconduct during the process, citing an incident involving a woman judicial officer who was reportedly left in tears amid the commotion.“So, the question is: You refuse to accept the authority of the courts, you refuse to trust the votes… you don’t trust in democracy, you trust nothing, so what does it mean?” he said.The BJP leader further alleged that the opposition was promoting a narrative about threats to Indian democracy, suggesting that foreign forces were seeking to influence perceptions of the country.“The conclusion being drawn is clear: they only trust in one thing whicch is the influce of foreign forces, they appears to create a narrative that India’s democracy is under threat,” Prasad said.He linked these allegations to India’s economic performance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing to assessments by international financial institutions.“And when does this narrative gain momentum? Often, it is when India is making rapid progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Look at the latest assessments from institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, which have described India as a bright spot in the global economy,” he said.The remarks came amid heightened tensions in the national capital, where around 1,000 protesters had been detained by Saturday while attempting to march towards Jantar Mantar for a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Delhi Police sources said told news agency ANI.Referring to the BJP’s electoral victories in Assam, Nandigram and Puducherry, the BJP MP linked the results to the protests that have rocked Delhi and other parts of the country.“Based on the events of today and the preceding three days, two things have become clear. One, Indian democracy has thwarted attempts to incite anarchy. Two, the country will be governed by Parliament, not by the streets,” he said.“We are not opposed to protests, but you have weaponised street protests because of your electoral defeats,” Prasad added, targeting opposition parties.Police continued to take demonstrators into preventive custody, informing them that permission had not been granted for the gathering. The latest detentions followed a protest by opposition leaders and MPs of the INDIA bloc on Friday, when they marched from Parliament towards Rashtrapati Bhavan, seeking Kumar’s immediate resignation. A delegation led by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge also met the President to raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
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The opposition has demanded the suspension and cancellation of the SIR exercise, restoration of millions of names it claims have been deleted from electoral rolls, repeal of legal protections granted to the Chief Election Commissioner, and a return to paper ballots in place of electronic voting machines (EVMs).Security was heightened across parts of central Delhi, with authorities imposing restrictions and detaining several leaders and protesters.
