Pabitra Margherita slams Congress over SIR, hails Arunachal voters’ cooperation

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita on October 29 criticised the Congress over its opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing the party of politicising the exercise.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters in Itanagar, alongside party chief spokesperson and MLA Mutchu Mithi, Margherita defended the electoral-roll revision process and praised the people of Arunachal Pradesh for their cooperation.

The press conference was held under the BJP's campaign slogan, “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy”.

Margherita said electoral-roll revision was necessary to maintain accurate voter lists and protect the integrity of elections. He questioned the Congress's objections to the exercise, arguing that electoral-roll revisions had also taken place under previous governments, including Congress-led administrations.

He accused the opposition of turning an electoral-administration exercise into a political controversy rather than raising specific concerns through established legal and administrative channels.

BJP Cites 22% Reduction in Electoral Roll Entries

Highlighting the SIR exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, Margherita said approximately 22 per cent of entries had been removed from the existing electoral rolls following verification, according to figures cited at the press conference.

He said the deletions included entries relating to deceased voters, people who had shifted residence, individuals whose whereabouts could not be established and duplicate registrations.

The minister thanked residents across communities and political affiliations for cooperating with the verification process. He also acknowledged the contributions of election officials, Booth Level Officers, political representatives and civil society organisations.

However, the figures cited at the press conference were not independently verified in the statement provided.

Margherita Stresses Protection of Eligible Voters

The Union minister said electoral-roll revision should ensure that voter lists accurately reflect eligible electors while addressing duplicate registrations and outdated entries.

He also emphasised that eligible citizens should not lose their voting rights because of administrative or clerical errors.

Margherita urged voters to verify their electoral details and approach the appropriate authorities through prescribed procedures if they found omissions or discrepancies.

He maintained that the Election Commission should be allowed to discharge its constitutional responsibilities while ensuring that genuine grievances are addressed in accordance with the law.

Targets Rahul Gandhi, Congress Over SIR Opposition

Taking aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Margherita alleged that the opposition was using electoral procedures to question democratic institutions following electoral setbacks.

He challenged the Congress to substantiate its concerns with evidence and pursue legal remedies where necessary, rather than create public confusion.

The BJP leader reiterated that electoral transparency, accurate voter lists and the protection of eligible citizens' voting rights should remain central to the revision exercise.

The Congress has been among the opposition parties raising concerns over SIR, an exercise that has prompted political debate over electoral-roll accuracy and the safeguards required to prevent the wrongful exclusion of eligible voters.

Margherita concluded by thanking the people of Arunachal Pradesh for their participation and reaffirmed the BJP's stated commitment to electoral transparency and the protection of voting rights.