By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: Delhi Mayor Shri Pravesh Wahi has accused opposition parties, particularly the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress, of attempting to undermine the image of the Election Commission of India by raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Addressing a press conference in the presence of Deputy Mayor Dr Monica Pant, Wahi said opposition parties had earlier sought to question the credibility of the Election Commission under the pretext of EVM hacking and were now attempting to use SIR as another issue. The press conference was conducted by Delhi BJP Media Head Shri Praveen Shankar Kapoor.
Wahi said attempts by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to question constitutional institutions were not new. He alleged that during Kejriwal’s tenure as Delhi Chief Minister, efforts were made to weaken the Municipal Corporation of Delhi by withholding its funds.
He further alleged that after the AAP emerged as the largest party in the 2022 Delhi Municipal Corporation elections, the constitutional formation of the civic body was delayed for nearly two years.
In a joint statement, Wahi and Dr Monica Pant also criticised Congress leaders for describing SIR as a threat to democracy, asking them to explain how this compared with the Emergency imposed during the tenure of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Wahi also referred to the history of the Election Commission, alleging that Congress governments had appointed S.L. Shakdhar and M.S. Gill as Election Commissioners and later provided them important positions after retirement, while T.N. Seshan faced harassment during his tenure.
The Mayor said the country had not forgotten these episodes and maintained that attempts to undermine the Election Commission through political campaigns would not succeed.
