Congress trying to create anarchy over SIR, alleges Pralhad Joshi
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi slams Congress for protesting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging attempts to create anarchy.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing them of attempting to incite anarchy across the country. The confrontation stems from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a process the Minister defended as a vital constitutional necessity to ensure the accuracy of voter lists.
Speaking to journalists in Hubballi, Karnataka, on Sunday, Joshi claimed that the recent protests staged by the Congress in Delhi were not legitimate agitations but deliberate attempts to stir unrest. He maintained that the SIR is being carried out with complete transparency and in strict accordance with the democratic framework of the Constitution.
Massive Voter Discrepancies Identified
Defending the necessity of the revision, Joshi provided staggering figures regarding the irregularities found in the current electoral rolls. He alleged that the exercise has uncovered significant numbers of ineligible entries that need to be purged to maintain the integrity of the democratic process.
According to the Union Minister, the findings include:
- Approximately three crore entries belonging to deceased individuals.
- Another three crore entries involving duplicate or fake registrations.
- A demand from the Congress to re-include roughly 13 crore "untraceable" voters, which Joshi claims includes migrants, deceased persons, and other ineligible individuals.
“The Election Commission has provided an open opportunity for eligible voters to appear in person and rectify any errors,” Joshi stated, questioning the logic of keeping ineligible names on the rolls.
Countering the 'Conspiracy' Claims
The Minister also took aim at Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who has alleged a conspiracy to delete legitimate voters in the state. Shivakumar had previously suggested that nearly 50 lakh voters were at risk of being removed from the lists.
Joshi countered this by citing data from the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, which indicated that around 90,000 names were on the ineligible list, rather than the millions suggested by the opposition. He used this discrepancy to question the validity of the "conspiracy" narrative.
“So who is conspiring?” Joshi asked rhetorically, pointing out a fundamental flaw in the opposition's argument. He noted that while the Centre frames the SIR policy, the actual implementation is handled on the ground by state government officials, including:
- Tahsildars
- Assistant Commissioners
- Deputy Commissioners
He argued that since these officers operate under the state government, it is illogical to blame the Central government for any perceived issues in the implementation process.
A Growing Political Divide
The Special Intensive Revision has rapidly evolved into a major flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the Congress. While the Congress continues to voice serious concerns regarding the fairness of the revision and the potential mass deletion of voters, the BJP maintains that the process is essential to clean up the system. Joshi concluded by stating that while citizens have a democratic right to protest, any movement that rejects the authority of Indian law and the Constitution is an attempt to foster anarchy.