Himanta targets Rahul Gandhi over SIR, accuses Congress leader of ‘blackmailing’ institutions

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 16 accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of attempting to “blackmail” national institutions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, arguing that opposition parties cannot question the electoral process selectively.

In a statement criticising Gandhi’s position on SIR, Sarma pointed out that the exercise had also taken place in Kerala and West Bengal, and questioned why the Congress was challenging it in some circumstances but not others.

“If you want to question SIR, if you want to question the Election Commission, then first you have to resign from the seat you are now there,” Sarma said.

He argued that Gandhi, as a sitting MP, had also been elected through the electoral process overseen by the Election Commission of India.

“If your certificate is good, then Modi’s certificate will also be good,” the Assam Chief Minister said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election.

Sarma accused Gandhi of attempting to pressure institutions, businesses and the judiciary. He also criticised the Congress leader’s alleged support for street protests and calls for regime change, saying political power should be changed through elections rather than street mobilisation.

“We are a democratic country, we are a peaceful country and if we don’t like a government, we’ll remove them through ballot,” Sarma said.

Citing Karnataka as an example, he said voters had changed governments through elections, demonstrating that political transitions could take place through democratic means.

Sarma further alleged that Gandhi lacked a clear vision for India and criticised what he characterised as an attempt to draw parallels with political developments in Bangladesh and Nepal.

The remarks come amid continuing political exchanges over the SIR exercise, electoral roll revisions and protests by opposition parties demanding accountability from the Election Commission.