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COVER STORY NOVEMBER 13, 2026 | The Indian Eye 4

PROTESTS OVER SIR
BJP QUESTIONS

RaGa’s MOTIVE

The dispute over the Special Intensive Revision has become a major political flashpoint,

with the BJP defending the exercise as necessary and the opposition alleging
that it could disenfranchise eligible voters

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
he Bharatiya Janata Party in-
tensified its campaign against
Topposition leader Rahul
Gandhi on Thursday, accusing him of
undermining democratic institutions
and fuelling disorder over the Special
Intensive Revision of electoral rolls,
while challenging the Congress lead-
er to debate the issue in Parliament.
Union Home Minister Amit
Shah led the attack, accepting Gand-
hi’s call for a debate and saying the
government was prepared to con-
vene a special parliamentary session
if the Congress formally requested
one. Other BJP leaders, including
chief ministers and Union ministers,
accused Gandhi of questioning the
Election Commission for political
reasons and seeking to protect al-
leged illegal voters.
The offensive came as the BJP
organised marches and rallies in sev-
eral states under its “Save Democ- Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah, along with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini,
racy, Remove Anarchy” campaign. BJP leader Smriti Irani and others participate in a padyatra, as part of the BJP’s ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ campaign, in Karnal on
Opposition parties, meanwhile, held
protests demanding that the elector- Thursday. (@AmitShah X/ANI Photo)
al roll revision be scrapped and Chief
Election Commissioner Gyanesh Ku- political confrontation to the streets. He accused Gandhi and the also urged the Congress to seek a
mar resign. He said the government would agree Congress of disrupting parliamenta- parliamentary debate. He accused
The dispute over the Special In- to a special session if the Congress ry proceedings and turning walkouts opposition leaders of walking out of
tensive Revision, or SIR, has become wrote to Prime Minister Narendra into a political strategy. Shah said the the House and questioned why they
a major political flashpoint, with the Modi seeking a discussion. “If you BJP was prepared to counter the op- were objecting to a process that, he
BJP defending the exercise as nec- wish to engage in a responsible dis- position in Parliament, state legisla- said, had also been carried out under
essary to clean up voter lists and the cussion, if your concerns hold truth, tures and at the grassroots level. “We previous Congress governments.
opposition alleging that it could dis- substance, and logic, then come and are the people of the streets,” Shah BJP lawmaker Sambit Patra took
enfranchise eligible voters. discuss them inside Parliament. Let’s said, adding that BJP workers would aim at Gandhi at a news conference
Addressing a rally during a BJP face each other head-on! But you respond if the opposition chose to in Bengaluru, saying political debates
march in Karnal, Haryana, Shah chal- won’t be able to handle the answers; mobilise crowds. should take place in Parliament rath-
lenged Gandhi to raise his concerns as always, you will just run away,” Union Railways Minister Ash- er than on the streets. He accused the
in Parliament rather than take the Shah said. wini Vaishnaw, speaking in Jaipur, Continued on next page... >>

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