Amit Shah News: Shah Slams Opposition on SIR: '3 Times Under Nehru, 11 Times Under Congress, They Get Angry When We State History'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the opposition in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on electoral reforms, specifically addressing the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of voter lists. Shah accused the opposition, particularly the Congress, of spreading 'lies' about the SIR process, while he asserted that it has become a 'fashion' for the opposition to get upset when historical facts are presented, implying that the current criticism of SIR is politically motivated and ignores past precedents.

Historical Precedents of SIR

Amit Shah provided a detailed historical context for the SIR process, highlighting its long-standing presence in India's electoral system. He pointed out that the first SIR was conducted in 1952, during the tenure of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Subsequently, SIR was also carried out in 1957 and 1961 under Nehru's leadership, while Also, Shah meticulously enumerated that the SIR process was completed a total of 11 times during various Congress regimes. This historical account served to underscore his argument that SIR isn't a new. Or politically motivated initiative by the current government, but rather a routine and necessary exercise.

Constitutional Mandate of the Election Commission

The Home Minister elaborated on the constitutional foundation and responsibilities of the Election Commission of India (ECI), while he stated that the ECI was constituted under Article 324 of the country's Constitution, establishing it as a vital constitutional body. Shah emphasized that when the provisions for the Election Commission were initially drafted, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had not even been formed. He clarified that the ECI is entrusted with the crucial responsibility of conducting free and fair elections,. Alongside the equally important task of updating and purifying the voter lists to ensure their accuracy and integrity.

Importance of Voter List Purification

Amit Shah further explained the significance of voter list purification by referencing Articles 325 and 326 of the Constitution. Article 325 ensures that no eligible voter is excluded from the electoral roll, while Article 326 lays down the essential conditions for being a voter, while shah stressed that the primary condition for voter eligibility is Indian citizenship, explicitly stating that foreigners shouldn't be included. Responding to the opposition's query about why the Election Commission is undertaking SIR, Shah retorted that it's the constitutional duty and responsibility of the Election Commission to do so, thereby dismissing the opposition's concerns as unfounded.

Preventing Infiltrators from Deciding Leadership

The Home Minister unequivocally stated the core objective of SIR: to meticulously identify and remove foreigners from the voter lists. He reiterated that the Election Commission is an independent body and that SIR is an indispensable process for maintaining the health and integrity of democracy, requiring periodic execution. Shah also recalled a specific instance from 2010, during a Congress government, when an Election Commissioner's decision prevented Returning Officers from deleting names from the voter list, while this decision, he argued, led to the undesirable situation where names of deceased individuals remained on the electoral rolls, thereby highlighting the critical need for regular SIR.

Amit Shah raised a profound question, asking whether infiltrators should be allowed. To decide who becomes the Prime Minister or Chief Minister of the country. He asserted that such a scenario is absolutely unacceptable and poses a grave threat to national sovereignty and democratic principles. He questioned the logic of keeping the names of deceased individuals on the voter list. Shah characterized SIR as the purification of the electoral roll and, with a pointed remark, expressed his understanding of the opposition's 'pain,'. Suggesting that they don't receive votes from Indian citizens but rather from foreigners who are being removed through the SIR process.

Debunking Rahul Gandhi's Allegations

Shah also addressed a specific claim made by Rahul Gandhi in a press conference on November 5, where Gandhi had alleged that 500 votes were cast from a single house in Haryana. Shah described this accusation as 'dropping an atomic bomb' and clarified that the Election Commission had investigated the matter. The ECI's findings revealed that the case pertained to individuals residing on an ancestral plot of one acre, where multiple families lived together. Shah concluded that this wasn't a fraudulent case but a genuine situation, thereby refuting Rahul Gandhi's allegation as baseless and misleading.