Rahul Gandhi Targets Modi, Shah Over SIR
Congress leader alleges voter-roll manipulation in Belagavi and seeks probe into electoral revision process
- Rahul Gandhi targets Modi, Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar over SIR.
- He alleges mass voter deletions in Belagavi.
- INDIA bloc plans nationwide protests over electoral-roll revision.
- Election Commission maintains its procedures are lawful.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st Oct: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of “destroying democracy” through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Gandhi also alleged that the three were responsible for what he described as “treason” and reiterated his demand that Kumar resign and become an “approver”, while calling for an investigation into Modi and Shah. The allegations are political claims and have not been established as facts.
Gandhi’s remarks followed a social media post alleging that Form 7 applications seeking deletion of voters’ names had surfaced in Belagavi, Karnataka. He cited claims that Booth Level Officers had been pressured to sign applications concerning voters known to them.
Form 7 is used for seeking deletion of names from electoral rolls. Gandhi claimed that nearly 15,000 voters were targeted in Belagavi over three days — September 22, 23 and 24 — and alleged that Muslims, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes were disproportionately targeted.
He alleged that the applications were being generated in bulk through a centralised process and claimed that Karnataka Congress leaders had approached the state Chief Electoral Officer seeking an FIR.
The specific allegations concerning the 15,000 voter applications and the alleged pressure on BLOs remain disputed and require verification by the competent election authorities.
Gandhi’s remarks came a day after the Opposition INDIA bloc announced a coordinated campaign against the Election Commission over SIR and alleged electoral irregularities.
The bloc, comprising 19 opposition parties at Wednesday’s meeting, announced “Save Democracy” marches at the district level between October 2 and 8. Opposition MPs are scheduled to march to the Election Commission on October 6, while the bloc also plans to approach President Droupadi Murmu.
The parties also renewed their demand for ballot-paper voting and urged the Supreme Court to expedite cases relating to SIR and alleged electoral malpractices.
The INDIA bloc has also demanded the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The Election Commission has rejected criticism of its functioning and maintained that differences of opinion within the Commission are part of institutional deliberations. It has said its orders have legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
The controversy intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions regarding SIR-related decisions. The Commission has said internal discussions and differing views do not affect the legal validity of its decisions.
The Election Commission has also initiated a review of its voter-roll software following concerns reported about changes to electoral rolls and announced measures to examine whether the software complies with legal requirements.
Gandhi, however, has continued to press his allegations, making the SIR exercise a central issue in the Opposition’s campaign against the Election Commission.
