Irani launches BJP’s SIR counterstrike
Amid Opposition’s nationwide protests against the functioning of the poll body, BJP National General Secretary Smriti Irani on Tuesday accused the Congress of “tearing apart” India’s constitutional framework.
Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters, Irani questioned the Opposition’s objections the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, citing the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) clarification on the issue. She also criticised the Congress for invoking the Lahore Congress session, where the historic resolution for Purna Swaraj was adopted, while attacking the poll panel.
“If a name appears as a duplicate on the electoral roll, or if the name of a deceased person appears on the electoral roll, why does the Congress Party want it restored? Why does the Congress Party want duplicate names to remain on the electoral roll? Why does the Congress Party want to ensure that duplicate names persist on the electoral rolls? “Irani questioned.
The retaliation was an effort to dispel perceptions that the ruling party was on the back foot on the SIR issue. This was her first media interaction after being appointing general secretary and in charge of UP affairs.
The reaction came after a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the SIR, restoration of over 13 crore names struck off from the electoral rolls and the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly manipulating elections.
“Talking about history, then the Congress should also speak about AO Hume, who served as the Secretary in the Department of Revenue, Agriculture, and Commerce in the then British government. It is historically documented that AO Hume had discussed with the then Viceroy that ‘formation of the Congress party was essential to provide protection of the British Empire, ’ she claimed.
She questioned whether Congress was raising similar concerns about the ECI in states such as Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala and Karnataka, where the BJP is not in power
In a veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leader said that in 2019, the outgoing national president of the Congress party had stated that he would make every possible effort to tarnish PM Modi’s image.
Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly said that they may criticise or attack him, but such attacks by the Congress should not turn into assaults on constitutional institutions or India’s democracy, the BJP national general secretary said.
“Yet, the Congress leadership is leaving no stone unturned in its attempt to undermine India’s constitutional systems,” she charged.
