Says only eligible Indian citizens should have voting rights; calls for transparent electoral roll revision
Shimla: Senior Himachal Pradesh BJP spokesperson Trilok Kapoor has accused the Congress and Left parties of spreading confusion over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the opposition is attempting to undermine the credibility of constitutional institutions and create political instability.
Kapoor claimed that some leaders associated with the Congress and Left parties were openly talking about “regime change”. He alleged that such statements reflected an attempt to create political conditions in India similar to those witnessed in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He said the BJP would democratically oppose any attempt to destabilise an elected government through unconstitutional pressure. India is the world’s largest democracy, Kapoor said, adding that the people’s mandate was the only constitutional means of changing a government. No political party should create distrust in democratic institutions or encourage an atmosphere of disorder, he said.
Backing the SIR process, Kapoor said accurate electoral rolls were fundamental to ensuring free, fair and transparent elections. Every eligible Indian citizen must be included in the voter list, while ineligible entries must be identified and corrected in accordance with the law, he said.“No illegal infiltrator should be allowed to vote unlawfully in the country. The right to vote in Indian elections belongs only to Indian citizens who meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by law,” Kapoor said.
He alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties were opposing the revision of electoral rolls because they feared a weakening of their political position. He added that the BJP had consistently supported impartial scrutiny and correction of possible irregularities in voter lists.Kapoor questioned why the opposition should object if the SIR process identifies deceased voters, people who have shifted residences, duplicate registrations or other ineligible entries for correction under the law.
At the same time, Kapoor stressed that the revision process must not deprive any eligible citizen of the right to vote. He said the Election Commission should ensure transparency, issue appropriate notices and provide opportunities for appeal during the exercise.He urged the Congress to raise any objections through facts and constitutional channels rather than making serious allegations without evidence and creating confusion among the public.
Kapoor said the BJP remained committed to protecting democracy, the Constitution and the integrity of the electoral process. He expressed confidence that people would reject what he described as the Congress and Left parties’ politics of misinformation and would not allow attempts to weaken democratic institutions to succeed.“Every eligible citizen’s vote must be protected, and every ineligible entry must be examined in accordance with the law. This is the foundation of fair elections and a strong democracy,” he said.
