SIR Opposition Just an Excuse, Congress Wants to Protect Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, Alleges BJP MP
Shimla, October 31, 2026: Former Union Minister and Hamirpur MP Anurag Singh Thakur launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of undermining India’s democracy, Constitution and constitutional institutions. He alleged that the Congress party’s opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was aimed at protecting alleged illegal immigrants rather than safeguarding democratic rights.
Thakur made these remarks while addressing felicitation ceremonies and party workers’ conferences organised in the Kutlehar and Chintpurni Assembly constituencies of his parliamentary constituency to honour newly elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Leader of the Opposition and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, former minister Virender Kanwar, former MLA Devender Kumar Bhutto and former MLA Chaitanya Sharma also participated in honouring the newly elected representatives.
Strong Panchayats Key to Building a Developed Himachal
Addressing the gathering, Anurag Thakur emphasised that empowered Panchayati Raj Institutions were essential for building strong villages and a prosperous Himachal Pradesh.
He said the Narendra Modi-led Central Government had undertaken several initiatives to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions, improve rural infrastructure and accelerate development at the grassroots level.
According to Thakur, digital technology, transparency and public participation have brought significant changes to the functioning of local self-government institutions.
He urged newly elected representatives to identify the priorities of their respective areas and prepare comprehensive development roadmaps to ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes and infrastructure projects.
Congress Trying to Undermine Democratic Institutions, Alleges Thakur
Taking aim at Rahul Gandhi, Thakur alleged that the Congress leadership was attempting to create political instability and weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.
He claimed that Gandhi’s repeated criticism of electoral processes reflected the Congress party’s frustration over electoral setbacks.
“Rahul Gandhi, who has repeatedly been rejected by the people, has now opened a front against the country’s democracy and Constitution,” Thakur alleged.
He further accused the Congress leadership of prioritising political interests over national interests.
SIR Opposition Aimed at Protecting Illegal Immigrants, Claims BJP MP
Questioning the Congress party’s opposition to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, Thakur alleged that the party was using the exercise as a political issue to protect Bangladeshis and Rohingyas whom he described as illegal immigrants.
“SIR is merely an excuse. The real objective of Congress is to protect Bangladeshis and Rohingyas,” Thakur claimed.
He also expressed concern over alleged attempts to facilitate the settlement of undocumented immigrants in Himachal Pradesh.
These allegations were made by the BJP leader, and no supporting evidence establishing the alleged Congress motive was provided in the press statement.
Thakur Questions Congress Stand on EVMs and Electoral Roll Revision
Referring to the history of electoral reforms, Thakur questioned what he described as the Congress party’s changing position on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot papers.
He claimed that after the BJP increased its Lok Sabha tally from two seats to 86 in the 1989 general elections, then Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi advocated the use of EVMs. He contrasted this with Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of EVMs and demands for greater electoral transparency after 2014.
Thakur also cited previous electoral roll revision exercises, claiming that similar processes had been undertaken in 1952, 1957, 1961, 1965–66, 1983–84, 1987–89, 1992–93 and 1995.
He referred to the 2002–03 revision conducted during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government and questioned why Congress was opposing the current exercise.
“If the institution and the process remain the same, why is Congress objecting to the revision after more than two decades?” he asked.
BJP MP Challenges Opposition’s Claims Over Voter List Deletions
Responding to opposition allegations concerning the deletion of approximately 13 crore names during the SIR exercise, Thakur presented figures that he claimed explained the changes in electoral rolls.
According to the figures cited by him, around 2.8 crore entries related to deceased persons, three crore involved individuals who could not be traced, 6.3 crore concerned people who had changed their addresses, and approximately one crore were duplicate entries.
He argued that eligible individuals whose names were omitted due to relocation or verification-related issues could seek registration by submitting the required documents.
Thakur questioned why Congress was opposing the removal of deceased and duplicate entries from electoral rolls.
The figures and explanations cited by Thakur represent his claims and have not been independently verified in this report.
The BJP MP reiterated that maintaining accurate electoral rolls was essential for ensuring transparency and credibility in the electoral process, while accusing Congress of politicising the revision exercise.
He also called upon party workers and newly elected Panchayati Raj representatives to remain committed to grassroots development, public welfare and strengthening democratic institutions.
