Telangana BJP accuses Congress of spreading misinformation on SIR process
Hyderabad, Sept. 29 (TNT): Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao on Tuesday accused the Congress and INDIA bloc leaders of spreading misinformation about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and misleading the public.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters here, Rao alleged that opposition leaders were attempting to create the impression that differences existed among members of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Referring to a recent office note signed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, Rao said it clarified that there were no differences among them.
On Form 6, he said the Supreme Court had validated the form and accused the Congress of undermining the country’s democratic institutions by spreading misinformation about the electoral process.
Rao alleged that the Congress questioned electronic voting machines (EVMs) and electoral processes when it lost elections but did not raise similar objections when it won.
Referring to elections in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, he questioned the party’s approach to the issue.
He also alleged that several Election Commission officials received post-retirement appointments or awards during Congress-led governments.
Citing examples from the tenures of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, he referred to appointments and awards given to former chief election commissioners and other officials.
Rao said the appointment process for Election Commission officials had changed under the Narendra Modi government, with the Leader of the Opposition and a Supreme Court judge involved in the selection process.
He further alleged that the Congress’s opposition to the SIR process in Telangana contradicted earlier statements by some of its senior leaders, including Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sachin Pilot and Ramesh Chennithala, who he said had previously spoken positively about the exercise.
Rao said the objective of SIR was to update electoral rolls, eliminate bogus entries and prevent fraudulent voting while protecting the rights of eligible voters.
He urged the public not to be misled by what he described as misinformation about the process.
TNT TS
