Chidambaram Questions BJP’s ‘Anarchist’ Charge, Says Protests Led to Special Voter Camps

Chidambaram accused the BJP of defending what he described as indefensible decisions and said protests by the Congress, INDIA bloc parties, student groups and civil society activists had compelled the Election Commission to respond to concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Nabin, speaking in Varanasi during the conclusion of the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', had accused Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders of adopting an “anarchist mindset” and creating confusion among the public.

The BJP president also alleged that Rahul Gandhi was defending “ghuspaithiyas” (infiltrators) and questioned the Opposition's objections to the deletion of names during the SIR process.

“These are people with an anarchist mindset, who know only how to spread poison in society. It was this EC which conducted elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where they came to power. If he has the courage, Rahul Gandhi should first resign,” Nabin said.

He claimed that the public was watching Rahul Gandhi's actions and accused the Leader of Opposition of shielding infiltrators.

“If the names of those 'ghuspaithiyas' are deleted through the SIR and you raise questions on the country's democracy for that, the biggest question would be on you. People of the country will give a befitting reply to the anarchist mindset,” Nabin said.

Responding to the allegations, Chidambaram questioned the logic behind describing deleted names as belonging to infiltrators while the Election Commission was simultaneously facilitating the re-enrolment of voters who had been left out.

“If those names that were deleted from the electoral rolls are those of 'infiltrators', why is the ECI holding special camps to re-enrol the 'left out' names?” Chidambaram asked.

He said protests by the Congress, INDIA bloc parties and various youth and student organisations had prompted state Chief Electoral Officers to address concerns and organise special camps for voters whose names were missing from the rolls.

Chidambaram also referred to concerns raised by two Election Commissioners, which he said pointed to dissent within the poll body over aspects of the exercise.

He alleged that genuine citizens had suffered injustice during the process and accused the BJP of attempting to defend the decisions despite the concerns being raised.