Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 16 accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of attempting to “blackmail” national institutions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, arguing that opposition parties cannot question the electoral process selectively while continuing to hold office through it.
In a statement criticising Gandhi’s position on the SIR exercise, Sarma pointed out that the revision had also been carried out in Kerala and West Bengal, and questioned why the Congress was challenging it only in certain circumstances and not others.
“If you want to question SIR, if you want to question the Election Commission, then first you have to resign from the seat you are now there,” Sarma said.
The Chief Minister argued that Gandhi, as a sitting Member of Parliament, had himself been elected through the electoral process overseen by the Election Commission of India. “If your certificate is good, then Modi’s certificate will also be good,” he said, referring to the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sarma went further, accusing the Congress leader of attempting to pressure institutions, businesses and the judiciary. He also criticised Gandhi’s alleged support for street protests and calls for regime change, saying that political power in India should change only through elections rather than street mobilisation.
“We are a democratic country, we are a peaceful country and if we don’t like a government, we’ll remove them through ballot,” Sarma said, adding that voters in Karnataka had demonstrated this by changing governments through elections, proving that political transitions can take place through democratic means.
The Assam Chief Minister further alleged that Gandhi lacked a clear vision for India, and criticised what he characterised as the Congress leader’s attempt to draw parallels between India’s political situation and recent developments in Bangladesh and Nepal.
Sarma’s remarks come amid continuing political exchanges over the SIR exercise, the broader revision of electoral rolls, and protests by opposition parties demanding greater accountability from the Election Commission. The controversy has sharpened the divide between the ruling bloc and the opposition, with the SIR process emerging as the latest flashpoint in the ongoing dispute over the integrity of India’s electoral machinery.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/himanta-targets-rahul-gandhi-over-sir-accuses-congress-leader-of-blackmailing-institutions-1463959-2026-10-16?utm_source=rssfeed
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-10-16 20:09:00
