Rahul Gandhi Fights SIR as Congress Slams 'Diabolical Duo' Over FIRs

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that crores of genuine voters have been stripped of their constitutional right to vote. Ramesh described the process as 'Shahenshah Instigated Removal,' a direct jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and accused the ruling party of orchestrating a systematic disenfranchisement of opposition-leaning voters. The remarks came as Congress MP Rahul Gandhi intensified his public opposition to the SIR, even as what Ramesh termed a 'diabolical duo' filed multiple FIRs against him.

The SIR, a door-to-door verification exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India, has been mired in controversy since its rollout in several states. Congress claims that the process disproportionately targets minority and marginalized communities, with lakhs of names deleted from voter lists without proper notice. Ramesh cited data from recent revisions, stating that in states like Karnataka and West Bengal, over 10 lakh voters were removed in the first phase alone. The BJP, however, defends the SIR as a necessary measure to cleanse electoral rolls of bogus and deceased entries, accusing Congress of politicizing a routine administrative exercise.

The escalating war of words comes ahead of crucial assembly elections in several states and the 2024 general elections. While the Election Commission has maintained that the SIR is transparent and follows due process, opposition parties have demanded an all-party meeting to address concerns. Legal experts suggest that if the allegations of mass disenfranchisement hold, it could lead to prolonged litigation and undermine public confidence in the electoral system. The BJP has dismissed the Congress's charges as a 'desperate attempt to cover up its own failures,' while Rahul Gandhi continues to campaign against the SIR, vowing to take the fight to every affected constituency.