Anurag Thakur Slams Opposition for Targeting Institutions
BJP leader Anurag Thakur accuses opposition parties of questioning the ECI and EVMs only after electoral defeats.
BJP leader and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur has launched a scathing attack on opposition parties, accusing them of selectively targeting constitutional institutions whenever they face electoral defeats. Speaking to the media in Himachal Pradesh, Thakur claimed that the opposition accepts the legitimacy of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during victories, only to cast doubt on them once they lose.
Allegations of Foreign Influence
While attending Navratri celebrations in Kangra, Thakur suggested that certain opposition leaders are following an agenda driven by foreign forces. He alleged that these actions are part of a broader attempt to weaken the foundations of Indian democracy. "Lies have no legs to stand on," Thakur remarked, adding that those who base their politics on falsehoods and continuous attacks on institutions will ultimately gain nothing.
Defending the Electoral Roll Revision
A major point of contention has been the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has faced significant protests. Thakur defended the process, stating that the removal of deceased voters, duplicate entries, and migrated individuals is essential for a clean democratic process and does not constitute a denial of voting rights.
He posed several questions to the protesting parties, including:
- Are deceased individuals entitled to vote?
- Should people with duplicate registrations be allowed to vote?
- Can individuals who have migrated be allowed to vote from multiple locations?
Thakur highlighted that the revision process in Himachal Pradesh was transparent, providing voters several months to raise objections and allowing political party representatives, including booth-level agents, to participate in the exercise.
Rules and Public Demonstrations
Addressing the issue of public protests, the former Union Minister emphasized that while democracy allows for demonstrations, they must adhere to established legal frameworks. He stated that political organizations must obtain necessary permissions and inform authorities regarding the scale of their gatherings.
"There is no objection to anyone holding a protest or demonstration, provided it is conducted according to the rules. But a country cannot function if some people believe they are above institutions, rules and the law," Thakur concluded.