JAMMU: BJP Jammu & Kashmir Spokesperson and Convenor International Affairs, Gaurav Gupta, launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the INDIA bloc over their so-called ‘Mock Parliament’ and symbolic impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the opposition of turning constitutional institutions into platforms for political theatrics and spreading misinformation about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Gupta said that Congress, instead of raising its concerns through established constitutional and parliamentary mechanisms, was attempting to manufacture controversy and create unnecessary confusion among citizens over an exercise aimed at improving the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls.
Taking a sharp dig at Rahul Gandhi, Gupta remarked, “Congress should make Rahul Gandhi its permanent ‘Mock Prime Minister’ in its Mock Parliament. At least in its imaginary Parliament, he can enjoy the chair and fulfil his political ambitions. In a real democracy, the Prime Minister is chosen through the people's mandate, not through political drama, staged proceedings or wishful thinking. The people of India decide who occupies the highest executive office, not a gathering of opposition leaders.”
Addressing the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision, Gupta said that the Congress was deliberately presenting the 13.39-crore figure as votes stolen or voters permanently deleted, without explaining the actual categories involved in the electoral verification exercise.
He clarified that the Election Commission reviewed approximately 95.40 crore electoral entries across the three phases covered by the published data, with 13.39 crore entries categorised under ASDD and other categories at the draft stage.
Explaining the ASDD classification, Gupta said it stands for Absent, Shifted, Deceased and Duplicate. According to the published Election Commission breakdown, approximately 3.01 crore entries were categorised as absent or untraceable, 6.30 crore as permanently shifted, 2.80 crore as deceased and 1.02 crore as duplicate. Another 26 lakh entries fell under other categories.
Gupta said that these figures must be understood in their proper context and cannot simply be described as 13.39 crore confirmed cases of votes being stolen or genuine voters permanently removed. The figures represent entries identified during the draft-stage verification process and remain subject to the prescribed claims, objections and verification procedures.
He further highlighted that approximately six crore shifted electors had reportedly been re-added or updated through the ongoing enrolment and verification process, stressing that electoral revision must be viewed as a continuing exercise rather than a one-time deletion drive. He said that the process of verification, inclusion and correction is still underway.
Gupta said that the identification of approximately 2.80 crore deceased entries and more than one crore duplicate entries demonstrates why electoral roll verification is necessary.
“Does Congress want deceased persons and duplicate entries to remain indefinitely in electoral rolls? Does it oppose verification of voters who have permanently shifted their residences? Maintaining accurate electoral rolls is essential for a credible democratic process. The identification of discrepancies should not automatically be portrayed as an attack on democracy,” Gupta asserted.
He added that Booth Level Officers undertake field verification to establish the status of voters, while electoral lists are also made available to political parties' Booth Level Agents for scrutiny. Any genuine discrepancy or wrongful exclusion must be addressed through the prescribed claims and objections mechanism.
Clarifying the controversy surrounding Form 6, Gupta said that the prescribed statutory Form 6 has not been amended as alleged by the Congress. The additional declaration associated with the SIR exercise is a separate requirement and should not be confused with an amendment to the original form.
He said that the additional declaration is intended to establish links with previous electoral records and facilitate the verification process. The Election Commission has clarified that the original statutory Form 6 remains unchanged.
Gupta further stated that eligible citizens whose names are missing from the draft electoral rolls can approach the concerned electoral authorities and complete the prescribed formalities for inclusion. Form 6 provides the route for eligible applicants to seek enrolment, subject to applicable rules and verification.
He urged citizens not to panic or fall prey to political misinformation and advised them to check their enrolment status, contact their respective Booth Level Officers and use official Election Commission channels for assistance.
“An eligible citizen must never be deprived of the right to vote. At the same time, electoral records must accurately reflect the actual status of voters. The objective should be to protect every eligible voter while ensuring that deceased, duplicate and outdated entries are dealt with according to law,” he said.
Coming down heavily on the Congress over its symbolic impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Gupta said that Parliament and constitutional institutions cannot be reduced to political stages.
“Impeachment is a serious constitutional process, not a political performance that can be enacted at a private residence or in a mock session for television cameras. If Congress has genuine objections, it should follow constitutional and legal procedures instead of manufacturing political spectacles,” he remarked.
Gupta said that constitutional institutions deserve respect and that accountability must be pursued through established procedures rather than symbolic proceedings designed to generate headlines.
He further said that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership must understand that constitutional offices carry dignity and accountability, and democratic institutions cannot function according to the convenience of any political party.
A responsible opposition, he added, should raise substantive issues, provide evidence and participate constructively in parliamentary debate rather than undermine public confidence in constitutional institutions.
Concluding his statement, Gupta said, “India is the world's largest democracy, where the people are supreme. No amount of mock sessions, political slogans or staged proceedings can replace the people's mandate. Congress can certainly create a Mock Parliament and appoint Rahul Gandhi as its Mock Prime Minister, but the real Prime Minister of India is chosen by the democratic will of the people. The country needs a responsible opposition, not a permanent political drama.”
