Hubballi, 11 October (H.S.)

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi has accused the Congress of attempting to create anarchy in the country under the pretext of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Speaking to the media in Hubballi, Karnataka, on Sunday, Joshi said the protest held in Delhi on Saturday was not a legitimate demonstration but an attempt to create disorder.

He said the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was being conducted fairly and transparently in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution and the country's democratic system. However, the Congress and the CJP were protesting against the exercise with the intention of creating anarchy in the country, he alleged.

Joshi said the government could not remain silent while attempts were being made to create disorder in the country. Necessary measures had to be taken to prevent such situations. He maintained that the government had taken only the minimum necessary steps on Saturday to prevent disorder and bring the situation under control.

Should Names of Deceased and Fake Voters Remain on Electoral Rolls?

Joshi claimed that the Special Intensive Revision had identified approximately three crore names of deceased persons and another three crore duplicate entries and fake voters.

He said the Congress was demanding the re-inclusion of approximately 13 crore voters whose names could not be found in the electoral rolls. However, he alleged that these entries included deceased persons, people who had migrated, fake voters and illegal immigrants.

Questioning the demand, Joshi asked whether the names of such individuals should be retained on the electoral rolls.

He added that the Election Commission had provided eligible voters with an opportunity to appear in person and get their names corrected.

D.K. Shivakumar Trying to Please Rahul Gandhi

The Union Minister alleged that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was making various efforts to please his leader, Rahul Gandhi, over the Special Intensive Revision issue.

Shivakumar had alleged that there was a conspiracy to delete the names of 50 lakh voters in Karnataka. However, Joshi said the state's Chief Electoral Officer had clarified that only 90,000 voters' names were on the list of ineligible voters.

If that is the case, who is conspiring? he asked.

Officials Implementing the Exercise Are Under the State Government

Joshi questioned the allegations of a conspiracy by the Centre, pointing out that although the Centre might have framed the policies and rules governing the Special Intensive Revision, the process in Karnataka was being implemented by state government officials.

Are tahsildars, sub-divisional officers and district commissioners not under the state government? Where is the Centre's conspiracy in this? he asked.

He said everyone had the right and opportunity to stage protests in a democratic system. However, statements that the country's laws would not be recognised and the Constitution would not be followed reflected an attitude aimed at creating anarchy, Joshi said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Rakesh Mahadevappa