New Delhi, 28 September (H.S.): Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress of attempting to tarnish the image of the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He said opposition parties had earlier targeted the Election Commission over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and were now using the SIR issue to undermine the reputation of a constitutional institution.

Speaking at a press conference held at the BJP state office on Monday in the presence of Deputy Mayor Dr. Monika Pant, Wahi said questioning the credibility of constitutional institutions by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not a new development.

Wahi alleged that during Arvind Kejriwal’s tenure as Delhi Chief Minister, attempts were made to affect the functioning of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi by withholding its funds. He further claimed that even after the 2022 civic elections, the Municipal Corporation’s constitutional formation was not allowed for nearly two years, which, he said, affected its autonomy.

In a joint statement, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor also targeted the Congress, saying that Congress leaders who were now describing the SIR as a threat to democracy should also remember the period of the Emergency. They said the country had not forgotten the events associated with that period in India’s democratic history.

Wahi said that over the past 12 years, opposition parties had raised different issues to question the credibility of the Election Commission, from panchayat, municipal and corporation elections to Assembly polls. He claimed that the SIR was now being raised with a similar objective.

He also criticised the Congress over past developments involving the Election Commission. Wahi said the country had not forgotten episodes in which allegations of bias were levelled against the Congress in connection with former Election Commissioners S.L. Shakdher and M.S. Gill, while a confrontation had emerged between the Congress and former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar