JAMMU, Sept 27: The Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Sunday demanded a public apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning the Election Commission, accusing the Congress of making what it described as “baseless allegations” against the constitutional body.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Jammu, J&K BJP president Sat Sharma defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and said the Election Commission was responsible for ensuring that only eligible voters participate in elections.
Sharma alleged that the Congress had repeatedly questioned the independence of constitutional institutions, particularly the Election Commission, and accused the party of claiming that the poll panel was influenced by the BJP-led government.
His remarks came amid a Congress campaign seeking the resignation and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over its objections to the electoral roll revision process.
Sharma also rejected reports of differences among the three Election Commissioners, pointing to a recent joint statement by the commission members as evidence of collective functioning on matters related to the SIR exercise.
The issue gained attention following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions regarding decisions and orders connected with the electoral roll revision.
Sharma said such reports were misleading and maintained that the three commissioners were working together on the SIR process and its schedule.
“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party should publicly apologise to the country and to the people,” Sharma said, alleging that the party was spreading claims that lacked a factual basis.
The J&K BJP president also criticised what he described as the Congress’s approach toward constitutional institutions. Referring to the Emergency and subsequent political controversies, he alleged that the party had previously questioned the functioning of independent institutions.
Sharma also cited Congress criticism of the armed forces and military operations, including the surgical strikes, as well as remarks concerning the Supreme Court and its judges.
The Congress has maintained its objections to the Election Commission’s functioning and has continued to raise questions over the electoral roll revision process.
