BJP holds SIR awareness workshop at Jammu District Office

• SIR is not new, ongoing since 1952; Congress misleading people: Gaurav

JAMMU: BJP State Spokesperson, & Convener International Affairs  Gaurav Gupta on Monday said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is neither new nor unconstitutional, asserting that the exercise has been carried out repeatedly since 1952 under successive governments, including those led by the Congress.

Speaking at a SIR awareness workshop organised at the BJP District Jammu office under the chairmanship of District President Adv Rajesh Gupta, Gaurav Gupta, who was appointed as the main speaker by the BJP headquarters, said the opposition was deliberately spreading misinformation to create fear among voters.

Gupta said SIR exercises were conducted during the tenures of Jawaharlal Nehru (1952, 1957, 1961), Lal Bahadur Shastri (1965–66), Indira Gandhi (1981–84), Rajiv Gandhi (1987–89), P.V. Narasimha Rao (1992–93–95), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2002–03) and Dr Manmohan Singh (2004). “Now in 2025 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the same democratic process is continuing,” he said.

Explaining the purpose of SIR, Gupta said it aims to detect, delete and deport illegal names from electoral rolls. “Bangladeshi, Burmese and Rohingya infiltrators have no right to vote. India’s Prime Minister and Chief Ministers must be elected by Indian citizens, not by infiltrators,” he asserted, adding that SIR ensures Matdata Suchi Shuddhikaran (purification of voter lists).

Gupta accused the Congress of attempting to “normalize illegality” for electoral gains. “Congress could not win votes of the people, so now it wants infiltrators’ votes,” he said.

Referring to 2010 Election Commission guidelines, Gupta alleged that returning officers were stripped of deletion powers, which, according to him, allowed bogus entries to remain on voter lists. “That is why repeated SIR exercises became necessary,” he said.

On allegations regarding changes in the Election Commission appointment process, Gupta said Congress was misleading the public by claiming that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) was removed. “There was never any constitutional provision for the CJI in appointments earlier. From 1950 to 2023, appointments were made by the Prime Minister after consultation with the Council of Ministers and approval of the President,” he said.

He said it was the BJP government that took a “bold and transparent step” following the March 2023 Supreme Court judgment in Anoop Baranwal vs Union of India, by including the Leader of Opposition in the appointment committee which was iinterm order to include PM, CJI, LoP until the Act was constituted. At the same year Act was constituted in which PM, Union Minister (any), LoP was given due right to elect CIC. 

“Earlier, 21 Chief Election Commissioners and 8 Election Commissioners were appointed without any role for the opposition,” he added. “Now, the Union Home Minister and the Leader of Opposition are also part of the committee, and it was the BJP that took this bold and transparent step to make the appointment process more inclusive.”

Gupta also cited past instances, alleging that Congress-appointed Election Commissioners like B.S. Sampath and Navin Chawla were biased. He criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for questioning constitutional institutions only after electoral defeats.

On alleged vote manipulation, Gupta said serious questions remain unanswered, referring to a case pending in a Delhi court on whether Sonia Gandhi was registered as a voter before acquiring Indian citizenship. “If someone who is not eligible becomes a voter, that is the most blatant form of vote chori,” he said, echoing remarks of the Union Home Minister. Gupta added that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had exposed the Congress narrative, asserting that vote manipulation has been ingrained in the party’s political culture.

He cited historical instances, alleging that democratic norms were compromised when Jawaharlal Nehru became Prime Minister despite losing the internal Congress vote to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and later in 1975, when Indira Gandhi’s election from Rae Bareli was set aside by the Allahabad High Court, followed by the imposition of the Emergency instead of respecting constitutional institutions.

Gupta accused Congress of systematically attacking institutions to evade accountability. “First they blamed EVMs, then they targeted SIR, and tomorrow they will blame the people of India. Congress never introspects; it only looks for excuses,” he said.

He further alleged that the Congress, unable to secure the trust of its own voters, was now attempting to shield illegal infiltrators for political gain. “When Congress fails to win votes of Indian citizens, it seeks support from infiltrators,” Gupta alleged.

BJP State General Secretary Sanjita Dogra lauded BJP State Spokesperson Gaurav Gupta for his detailed and factual presentation on the SIR process. She said Gupta had effectively exposed the false narrative being spread by the Congress and clearly explained the historical and constitutional basis of Special Intensive Revision. “Gaurav Gupta has put facts before the public with clarity and courage. His articulation reflects the BJP’s commitment to transparency, democratic values and clean electoral processes,” she said, adding that such awareness programmes were vital to counter misinformation and strengthen public trust in constitutional institutions.

District President Rajesh Gupta, while chairing the workshop, said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is essential to protect the sanctity of democracy. He said that the exercise aims to ensure that only genuine Indian citizens are included in the voter list, thereby strengthening public faith in the electoral process.

Gupta said that BJP workers must take the SIR awareness campaign to the grassroots level and help citizens understand the importance of clean and transparent voter rolls. “A strong democracy rests on free, fair and infiltration-free elections. The BJP is committed to safeguarding constitutional institutions and ensuring that every eligible citizen’s vote is protected,” he said.

The workshop was attended by BJP state and district office bearers, including Sanjita Dogra, State General Secretary; Brijesh Rana, District Prabhari; Arun Prabhat Singh, BJYM State President; Brahm Jyot Satti, OBC Morcha State President; Veenu Khanna; Ayodhya Gupta; District General Secretaries Ravi Kant Sharma and Suneet Raina; Mandal Presidents Swati Sharma, Adarsh Jathiar, Anil Angral, Kushant Prajapati and Shiv Sharma, along with senior party leaders and workers.