'Anarchist & Protector of Regime Change': Nityanand Rai Slams Rahul Gandhi
MoS Home Nityanand Rai slams Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition, alleging they support anarchy and protect fake voters to hide electoral defeats.
In a scathing attack on the Opposition, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has accused Rahul Gandhi of fostering an atmosphere of anarchy on the streets of Delhi. Speaking at a press conference at the BJP office in Surat, Rai alleged that the Congress leader is not merely opposing administrative processes but is actively supporting and protecting those seeking a "regime change" in India, drawing parallels to movements seen in Bangladesh.
The Battle Over Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
The central point of contention is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. While the Opposition has raised concerns over the exercise, Nityanand Rai defended it as a necessary step to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. He stated that the primary goal of the SIR is to purge illegal votes and ensure that only genuine citizens exercise their right to vote.
Rai pointed out the legal backing for the exercise, citing Article 324 of the Indian Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which empower the Election Commission to conduct such revisions. He further noted that the Supreme Court has affirmed this position.
A Question of Consistency
The Minister highlighted a perceived hypocrisy in the Congress party's stance. He revealed that out of 12 SIR exercises conducted in India's history, 10 occurred while Congress-led governments were in power.
"If SIR was a legitimate administrative process when the Congress was in power, then how has the same process suddenly become an attack on democracy today?" Rai questioned.
He further reminded the Opposition that when Congress won elections in states like Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, the Election Commission was viewed as fair and the SIR process was acceptable. However, he alleged that the narrative changed once the BJP began winning across various states.
The Numbers: 13 Crore Names Removed
Providing a detailed breakdown of the SIR exercise, Nityanand Rai disclosed that 13 crore names have been removed from the rolls. The figures include:
- 6.3 crore: People who have permanently relocated.
- 3 crore: Individuals who were absent.
- 2.8 crore: Deceased voters.
- 1 crore: Duplicate entries.
Rai alleged that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party are attempting to protect these "fake voters" and using the SIR as a pretext to shield foreign infiltrators.
Electoral Defeats and 'Foreign Elements'
Turning the heat on the Congress party's track record, the Minister claimed that under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, the party has faced a "century of electoral defeats" since 2014. He specifically mentioned 56 Assembly election losses during this period, all of which occurred before the current SIR exercise began.
Rai challenged Rahul Gandhi, along with Tejashwi Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav, regarding the presence of illegal infiltrator votes in West Bengal. He questioned if these leaders were unaware of the facts or were intentionally ignoring them.
A Stern Warning to the Opposition
Concluding his address, Nityanand Rai warned the Opposition against conspiring to weaken constitutional institutions, asserting that such attempts would meet a strong response. He urged Opposition leaders to shift toward "public-centric politics" to avoid further electoral losses in states like Bihar, Gujarat, and West Bengal.
"Stop playing into the hands of foreign elements and have faith in the country’s democracy," Rai advised, emphasizing that the public is well aware of the reality of the situation.