Blaming the SIR process for the Congress party's electoral failures was entirely baseless: Smriti Irani

Key Highlights: 

• The opposition's tendency to attack the country's constitutional and democratic institutions
• After plundering Bengal, the Trinamool Congress now aims to exploit Delhi too.  
• Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visited the homes of every voter across the country multiple times, in accordance with established procedure's
• Approximately 13 crore names excluded from the draft electoral rolls, nearly 3 crore belonged to deceased voters
• Highlighted the allegations of atrocities against BJP Booth Level Agents during the SIR exercise in West Bengal

Following the Congress rally titled "Vote Bachaco, Desh Bachao," the BJP held a rally in Kolkata named "Desh Bachao. Arajakta Hatao." These two rallies have initiated a verbal conflict between the opposition and the BJP. While keeping all these in view, the BJP held a press conference in Kolkata led by former Union Minister and BJP National General Secretary Smriti Irani. During the conference, Smriti Irani strongly criticized the SIR process, the recent political activities of the opposition alliance, and the opposition's tendency to attack the country's constitutional and democratic institutions.

Irani pointed out that the true political motives of the opposition were revealed by the comments made by Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress, during the opposition rally in Delhi. After plundering Bengal, the Trinamool Congress now aims to exploit Delhi too. The citizens of the nation have listened to and observed these declarations. 

BJP National General Secretary Smriti Irani, BJP West Bengal State President and Rajyasabha MP Shri Samik Bhattacharya, BJP West Bengal General Secretary and MP Purulia Shri Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato and BJP West Bengal State General Secretary and Office-in-Charge Smt. Shashi Agnihotri at AltAir Hotel for the Press Conference on Ganatantra Bachao Arajakta Hatao

Explaining about the SIR process, Irani said that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is a systematic and transparent exercise. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visited the homes of every voter across the country multiple times, in accordance with established procedures. Nearly 20 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from opposition parties were also associated with this exercise. The entire process was carried out in their presence. Therefore, if the opposition questions the transparency of the process, it must also question the role of its own Booth Level Agents.

"Out of approximately 13 crore names excluded from the draft electoral rolls, nearly 3 crore belonged to deceased voters, 1 crore were duplicate entries, around 3 crore belonged to voters who could not be found at their registered addresses despite repeated visits, and nearly 6 crore voters had changed their addresses. Out of approximately 90 crore voters, the verification process for 90 per cent has been completed. She questioned why the Congress and the Trinamool Congress were so desperate to retain the names of deceased and duplicate voters on the electoral rolls. Instead of seeking to establish the actual whereabouts of voters who could not be traced, why were the opposition parties opposing the process?" said Smriti Irani.

Irani further highlighted the allegations of atrocities against BJP Booth Level Agents during the SIR exercise in West Bengal, noting that it was apparent to all how booth-level representatives were obstructed and harassed throughout the state. Incidents included the suicide of an Anganwadi worker, the shooting of the husband of a female Anganwadi worker in Malda, vandalism and arson at a BDO office, cooking on blocked national highways, and burning of documents taken from BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul's vehicle in the presence of police officers. Despite all these the process been carried out properly in West Bengal, over 30 Lakh additional names would have been removed from the electoral rolls. 

Irani stated that the 900 millions voters of India are the genuine protectors of Indian democracy. Regardless of the opposition's criticism directed at the institutions like EVM's the Election Commission, the Supreme Court, and Parliament, the vigilant citizens of this nation will not permit any efforts to undermine the democratic framework to prevail.