BJP calls Oppn march against SIR ‘anti-democratic'
BJP National General Secretary, Arun Singh, said the protest undermined democratic norms. 'The conduct of the Congress and other Opposition MPs is essentially anti-democratic. Important issues can be raised in Zero Hour and Question Hour in Parliament, but they have wasted that time,' Singh said.
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi also dismissed the protest march of the Opposition parties. 'This protest is meaningless. Demonstrations are justified when demands are ignored, but the Election Commission — a constitutional body — was willing to meet them,' she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
18 minutes ago
- India Today
Bihar woman shown as '124-year-old' in voter roll fumes at poll body, Opposition MPs
Minta Devi, a Bihar resident who was allegedly listed as a 124-year-old woman on the Election Commission's voter list, slammed those who committed the clerical error and also questioned the Opposition MPs who protested over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by wearing T-shirts featuring her name and alleged also said that if the government really thinks she is 124-years-old, they should start extending the benefits of an old-age pension to Devi is a 35-year-old woman living in Bihar's Siwan district and has been added to the state's electoral roll for the first time years after she became eligible to cast a vote. She claimed she was born on July 15, 1990 and submitted documents supporting the same while filing papers to get herself enroled. Her reaction came on a day when INDIA bloc MPs led by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi protested in New Delhi against SIR in Bihar and wore T-shirts featuring a picture of Minta Devi with "124 not out" printed on them."Who are they (Opposition MPs) to me? Who is Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi to me? Who gave them the right to wear t-shirts featuring my face? Why are they trying to act like my well-wishers over my age? This should not be done. I do not want this," Devi fumed while speaking to also demanded that her age and other details in the state's electoral data be corrected as soon as possible and the same people who committed the error be made to rectify it. "I will not submit any more documents to get this corrected as it was not me who is at fault; The officials are".PROTESTS AGAINST SIRThere have been widespread protests over the voter roll revision in poll-bound Bihar, with INDIA bloc parties alleging that the Election Commission was colluding with the ruling BJP by cherry-picking voters to remove their names as per their charges have been vehemently denied by the poll panel, who has been emphasising that complete transparency was ensured while revising the voter roll data in the Monday, while Parliament was functioning during the Monsoon Session, Opposition MPs led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a protest march to the Election Commission's office against Bihar voter data revision, calling it an attempt to kill democracy. Several MPs were detained during the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly is scheduled to go to the polls later this year, most likely in October or November.- EndsWith agency inputsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Bihar
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Cong to decide on Raj's role in MVA if he & Uddhav reunite: Ramesh Chennithala
PUNE: The Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will take a call on Raj Thackeray's role in the alliance if he and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray formally reunite; the party's Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala said on Tuesday. Chennithala accused the ECI of ignoring the information provided by the Opposition about suspected malpractices in various constituencies. The remark came at the end of the Congress's two-day, state-level workshop, attended by Chennithala and state unit president Harshwardhan Sapkal. Asked about speculation following Uddhav and Raj seen sharing a stage recently, Chennithala told media persons, 'We have no objection if both brothers come together — that is their family matter. But as far as the MVA is concerned, once they reunite, we will hold discussions within the party and make a decision.' Also Read | Congress condemns Israeli envoy's reply to Priyanka on Gaza post, accuses Modi of 'moral cowardice' Chennithala attacked Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, questioning why the CM was speaking on behalf of the Election Commission of India (ECI) after Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about its functioning. 'Rahul Gandhi asked the ECI questions yet the Maharashtra CM replied on the ECI's behalf. Why?' Chennithala wondered aloud. Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day workshop of the Congress in Pune, Chennithala alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ECI were working in collusion to undermine the democratic process during elections in the country. 'Vote chori' was first raised in Maharashtra. After the results of the assembly polls were declared, we raised doubts over the electoral process. It was obvious that the votes had been stolen. The BJP and the ECI had jointly snatched away our victory. This happened in Haryana as well, and the same will happen in Bihar,' Chennithala said. Also Read | Cong cites Jagdeep Dhankhar's move before he quit, takes a jibe over judge removal notice in Lok Sabha He accused the ECI of ignoring the information provided by the Opposition about suspected malpractices in various constituencies. In the LS elections held in May 2024, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was humbled by the MVA, with the Opposition bloc cornering 30 out of the 48 seats; Chennithala said. 'The MVA won the maximum number of seats in Maharashtra in the 2024 LS elections but 'vote chori' turned the mandate in favour of the Mahayuti in the assembly polls, held five months later,' he alleged. Also Read | 'Vote theft': BJP's lone Kerala seat in focus, Congress flags discrepancies in Thrissur voter list Furthermore, Chennithala said, 'The ECI cannot intimidate the leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, by sending him notices after he exposed the vote theft in Maharashtra and Bihar.' Gandhi is leading the protests against 'vote chori' to save democracy without any political motive. The Congress will intensify protests across the country by reaching out to the masses and conducting signature campaigns, Chennithala said. While the ECI has not clarified the 'vote chori' concerns, the BJP is defending the poll watchdog, Chennithala claimed. He alleged that the tariffs slapped on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump reflected the failure of India's foreign policy. 'The trade tariff has started hurting businesses. The country now remembers Indira Gandhi's valiant leadership during the India-Pakistan war in 1971. In contrast, our incumbent Prime Minister is scared to speak out against threats by the US,' Chennithala said. He claimed that the Mahayuti dispensation is running the 'most corrupt' government in the history of Maharashtra. 'They did not keep their promise on the farm loan waiver. The flagship Ladki Bahin scheme failed as many women were excluded from its ambit,' Chennithala said. He pointed at the allegations against minister of state for home, Yogesh Kadam, in connection with a dance bar in Mumbai and the controversy over cabinet minister Manikrao Kokate playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during a legislative session. Chennithala accused the BJP of deliberately delaying the long-pending elections to the local bodies in the state. Whereas Sapkal, addressing the party workers, said that the Congress has remained strong despite some leaders quitting. 'Those who left should not be spared any thought. We have a strong base. With local self-government elections coming up, the party must stand united to win in the municipal corporations and Zilla Parishads,' he said. The two-day workshop, held at a private resort near Khadakwasla dam, saw participation from all state-level leaders and office-bearers of the Congress. (with agency inputs)
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
If voter list is faulty, dissolve LS. Let's have fresh polls: Abhishek
1 2 Kolkata: TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday stepped up the ante against the SIR saying, "Let the Lok Sabha be dissolved. Let there be a nationwide SIR and hold fresh elections." He argued that if faulty voter lists require rectification, then 240 BJP MPs elected on the basis of those lists should step down first. Banerjee also stated that if a single genuine voter is struck off the Bengal voter rolls, one lakh people would gherao the EC. Speaking to reporters before leaving for Delhi, Banerjee said, "We had a few basic questions: Why in 2025 can we not have access to a digitised voter list? Why is the SIR being conducted forcefully, especially in opposition-governed states? Even if I grant the EC's claim that there are irregularities in the voter list, this is the same list used in the 2024 LS elections, based on which the current PM and govt were elected. If there are irregularities now, the entire Union ministry must resign." "Even if I assume the EC is correct, then the first step must be to initiate criminal proceedings against the then chief election commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, and file an FIR. Because under his vigilance and supervision, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were conducted, over 240 BJP MPs were elected, on the same irregular rolls. The PM, the President and all Union ministers must resign," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo "Let BJP start, we will all resign. Let Lok Sabha be dissolved. Conduct SIR nationwide. Then hold fresh polls," he said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in Kolkata He also questioned why only BJP is publicly defending the EC on SIR, and not others. "And why should the BJP defend the EC? The EC is supposed to be a neutral body. If it is truly neutral, it should sit down with MPs," he said. "Mamata Banerjee was the first to flag this issue on Feb 27 at Netaji Indoor. The same person, with the same EPIC number, is included in the voter lists of Gujarat, UP and Bengal. Congress party's media conference showed conclusively that the same person voted in Varanasi and Karnataka on the same day," he added Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
