Mathura: BJP MLA from Mathura-Vrindavan and former minister Shrikant Sharma has launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Shrikant Sharma, who is also the BJP’s in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, referred to the sacred thread (kalava) tied around the wrist of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab and accused the Opposition of defending people who conceal their identities. He said fake names were being removed from electoral rolls as part of the purification process, which had left Rahul Gandhi and his party troubled.
Referring to the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008, Shrikant Sharma said the Congress was in power at the Centre at the time. He claimed that terrorist Ajmal Kasab had tied a kalava around his wrist to conceal his identity. Citing this example, he alleged that some people in the country were also living while concealing their real identities. According to him, the names of such individuals were being removed during the revision of electoral rolls.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, Shrikant Sharma said the Opposition was questioning the removal of fake names from voter lists. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi and his party were defending infiltrators and people residing in the country illegally while concealing their identities. Shrikant Sharma said that while the Congress spoke about protecting democracy, it appeared to be standing in support of people whose presence in the country was being questioned.
Shrikant Sharma said that no genuine Indian citizen needed to be worried about the revision of electoral rolls. Voters whose names had been mistakenly deleted from the list could contact the relevant authorities and complete the process to have their names reinstated. He advised people to seek information from officials, including tehsildars, lekhpals and panchayat secretaries. He also appealed to the public not to be misled by misinformation and urged parents to keep their children away from violent or misleading protests.
