Smriti Irani cites 10 SIR exercises under Congress, slams Opposition over protests

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him a "prince in perpetual waiting", and accused the Opposition of undermining constitutional institutions by questioning the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Addressing a press conference in Kolkata as part of the BJP's 'Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy' campaign, Irani questioned the Congress's opposition to the exercise, pointing out that 10 of the 12 SIR exercises conducted in India since 1952 took place when the party was in power.Irani also challenged the Opposition to acknowledge the work of Booth Level Agents (BLAs), claiming that around 20 lakh agents belonging to opposition parties had gone door to door to verify electoral details."Nobody can deny that Booth Level Agents went door to door to verify the facts. Out of those, 20 lakh BLAs belonged to opposition parties. I want to ask the Opposition whether it wants to deny the work done by its own BLAs," she said. The BJP leader's remarks come amid an escalating political confrontation over SIR, with the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other opposition parties accusing the Election Commission of facilitating "vote chori" and demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.'CONGRESS LOST 56 ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS SINCE 2014'Irani accused the Congress of blaming the Election Commission for its electoral defeats instead of examining its leadership and organisational failures. She claimed that the party had lost 56 Assembly elections between 2014 and 2025, before the current SIR exercise, and questioned how the poll panel could be held responsible for its electoral setbacks."The Congress has been losing elections since 2014. Gyanesh Kumar was not even the Chief Election Commissioner then," she said.She also cited the Congress's prolonged absence from power in several states, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, to question its electoral strategy.Irani further alleged that the Congress was refusing to accept the removal of duplicate and ineligible voters from electoral rolls. "Why does the Congress want duplicate and fake voters to remain on the electoral rolls?" she asked.ACCUSES TMC OF PROTECTING INFILTRATORSTargeting the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, Irani alleged that the party had facilitated the presence of infiltrators in West Bengal for electoral gains."Why does the TMC want duplicate and fake voters in the electoral list? Because it accommodated infiltrators for its own benefit," she alleged.She also took a swipe at the Opposition's joint protest against the Election Commission at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, challenging the Congress, TMC and CPI(M) to organise a similar demonstration in West Bengal."In Delhi, Adhir da (Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury) and Mamata didi are joining hands. Why are they not doing so in West Bengal?" she asked.Irani also referred to Mamata Banerjee's remarks, alleging that the West Bengal Chief Minister had inadvertently admitted during her speech that those who had looted Bengal now wanted to loot Delhi.'PRINCE IN WAITING' ATTACKS INDIAN STATEIn a series of allegations against Rahul Gandhi, Irani said the Congress leader had targeted the Supreme Court, the Indian state and now the electoral system.She also questioned Gandhi's remarks during overseas visits and alleged that Congress leaders had sought foreign assistance to undermine the Narendra Modi government."Mani Shankar Aiyar goes to Pakistan and makes comments against the country. Rahul Gandhi goes to London and says he wants to defeat Modi. Is it right for the Leader of Opposition to make such remarks on foreign soil?" she asked.Irani also referred to allegations of foreign interference, questioning why Congress leaders had sought help from billionaire investor George Soros to win the elections.- Ends