Yudhvir Sethi accuses Congress, INDI Alliance of undermining democratic institutions

• Asks why is Congress opposing SIR when electoral roll revision has a long history

JAMMU: BJP senior leader and Jammu East MLA Yudhvir Sethi criticised the Congress and the INDI alliance, accusing them of attempting to weaken democratic institutions by questioning the functioning of constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission of India.

Addressing a seminar titled “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy” in Jammu, Yudhvir Sethi said that democracy depended on strong institutions, transparent electoral processes and respect for the Constitution.

The seminar was attended by former Minister and BJP vice-president Priya Sethi, BJP District Jammu President Advocate Rajesh Gupta, Advocate Amit, eminent journalist Sohail Kazmi, Brijashwar Singh Rana, Anil Masoom, Ravikant sharma ware house president Deepak Guptabesides presidents of various market associations along with reputed advocates, doctors, educationists and social activists,.

Yudhvir Sethi alleged that opposition parties were creating confusion among the public by raising questions about electoral procedures, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Sethi maintained that the revision of electoral rolls was an important exercise to ensure that voter lists remained accurate and transparent. He argued that such processes were necessary to protect the integrity of elections and ensure that eligible citizens could exercise their democratic rights.

Criticising the opposition's objections to the electoral revision exercise, the BJP MLA alleged that Congress and its allies were attempting to create distrust in constitutional institutions for political reasons.

He said that democratic processes should be strengthened through constructive participation rather than allegations that could undermine public confidence. The BJP leader also referred to the historical Emergency imposed in India in 1975, citing it as an example of the challenges faced by democratic institutions. He argued that the protection of civil liberties, constitutional values and democratic freedoms required constant public vigilance.

BJP senior leader and Jammu East MLA Yudhvir Sethi questioned the Congress and other opposition parties over their objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, arguing that voter list revision has been part of India's electoral process for decades.

In his remarks, Sethi said the ongoing debate had created the impression that electoral roll revision was a new or unusual exercise, whereas similar revisions had taken place at different points in India's electoral history.

 “If voter list revision has been taking place in India for decades, why is the Congress facing so much difficulty with it now?” Sethi asked, questioning the opposition's stance on the exercise.

Referring to the historical timeline of electoral roll revisions, Sethi cited several periods between 1952 and 2004, including 1952–56, 1957–61, 1965–66, 1983–84, 1987–89, 1992–95 and 2002–04. He pointed out that several such exercises took place when the Congress was in power at the Centre.

 “If detailed scrutiny and revision of voter lists were part of the electoral process earlier, why is such a major political controversy being created over the SIR today?” he asked.

Sethi argued that electoral processes should be assessed on consistent principles, irrespective of which political party is in power. He said the historical use of voter list revisions should be considered while examining the present debate.

Taking a swipe at the Congress, Sethi questioned whether the party's position on electoral processes changed according to election results. He suggested that political parties should demonstrate consistency in their approach to electoral institutions and procedures, whether they win or lose elections.

 “If the process was acceptable earlier, it should be evaluated by the same standards today,” Sethi said.

The MLA further criticised what he described as the opposition's repeated questioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other aspects of the electoral system. He said that political parties should use established legal and constitutional mechanisms to raise grievances and resolve disputes.

Emphasising the responsibility of citizens, Sethi called for greater awareness about democratic rights and constitutional duties. He said that public participation, institutional accountability and respect for the rule of law were essential for the healthy functioning of democracy.

The seminar focused on the importance of safeguarding democratic institutions, maintaining transparency in electoral processes and encouraging citizens to remain informed about constitutional matters.

Sethi urged people to remain vigilant and support efforts aimed at protecting democratic values, asserting that the strength of Indian democracy depended on public trust, institutional integrity and adherence to constitutional principles.