UP CM Calls SIR Uproar Unfortunate, Seeks Apology from Congress and Allies
Adityanath accuses opposition parties of undermining constitutional institutions and says voters excluded from the revision process will get an opportunity to submit required forms.
LUCKNOW, Sept 27: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday criticised the Congress and its allies over their opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing them of attempting to undermine democratic institutions for political interests.
Adityanath described recent statements by opposition parties regarding the SIR exercise as “extremely irresponsible” and called for an apology to the nation and constitutional institutions.
His remarks came after the Congress and several other opposition parties and organisations demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demand followed a report by The Indian Express claiming that two election commissioners had formally raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding the Election Commission’s handling of the electoral roll revision process.
Addressing reporters at his residence in Lucknow, Adityanath said the SIR was not a new exercise and had been conducted on several occasions in the past, including in 1952, 1957, 1961, 1965-66 and 2003.
He questioned the opposition’s criticism of the exercise, particularly when similar electoral roll revisions had taken place during periods when Congress-led governments were in power.
The chief minister also accused opposition parties of questioning the Election Commission and electronic voting machines whenever they faced electoral defeats. He said political parties should examine their policies and actions instead of attributing electoral setbacks to the poll panel or voting technology.
Adityanath further criticised Congress leaders for questioning constitutional institutions and referred to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks concerning the judiciary and the Election Commission. He also objected to descriptions of EVMs as a “black box”, pointing out that Congress governments had themselves come to power through elections using the machines.
Referring to the Emergency imposed in 1975, the chief minister alleged that previous Congress governments had acted against elected opposition administrations. He also criticised what he described as attempts to question the role and valour of the armed forces in connection with the Balakot airstrike and Operation Sindoor.
On the SIR process, Adityanath said the three Election Commissioners had explained the poll panel’s position before the media. He added that arrangements had been made to give voters who were left out an opportunity to submit the necessary forms.
“Democracy has no place for violence, there should be no place for vandalism and there should be no place for this kind of misinformation,” he said.
The Congress has alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision and sought action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. On September 25, Congress workers held demonstrations in several cities, including Lucknow, seeking Kumar’s resignation. Protests were also reported outside election offices in various states, with police using water cannons at some locations.
