Patna; Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday escalated his party’s attack on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing protests against it as a “second war of independence”. Speaking in Patna, he demanded that the revision exercise be stopped at once, future elections be held through ballot papers, and all Assembly polls conducted in the last two years be annulled.
Kharge was addressing a gathering organised to observe the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Krishna Singh, widely known as Sri Babu. He used the occasion to launch a sweeping criticism of the BJP, the RSS and the Election Commission, while also attacking JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar’s alliance with the saffron party.
SIR And ‘Vote Chori’
The Congress chief alleged that electoral rolls were being manipulated and names of opposition supporters deleted to influence poll outcomes. He questioned the credibility of the electoral process and the poll panel, claiming that governments in West Bengal, Haryana, Bihar and Maharashtra had come to power through “vote chori”, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Calling for public mobilisation, Kharge urged citizens to come out on the streets, assert their rights and defend the Constitution. He said the Election Commission owed people transparency and accountability, and demanded an immediate end to the ongoing SIR process.
He also pressed for a return to paper ballots in all future elections. “Besides, elections should be held using ballot papers to ensure transparency and restore public confidence. Democracy must be protected, and every vote must count,” he said.
BJP, RSS And Nitish
Kharge alleged that the BJP and RSS were promoting an ideology that deepened divisions across the country. “As long as RSS ideology is not eliminated, there will be no peace in the country,” he claimed.
He contrasted the Congress’s commitment to unity, equality and the Constitution with what he called the BJP’s politics of division. “We are patriots who believe in unity, equality and the Constitution — not in dividing our people for political gain like BJP leaders,” he said.
Taking aim at Nitish Kumar, Kharge said the JD(U) president had once worked alongside socialist leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan, but had now joined hands with the BJP. “What a dramatic shift from the legacy of socialist politics to sitting in the lap of the BJP,” he said.
Caste, Faith And Rahul FIR
Kharge demanded action against those practising untouchability and “suddhikaran”, saying caste-based exclusion violated human dignity and equality. He said Dalits should be able to enter every temple and worship without discrimination.
He clarified that his party’s fight was against religious discrimination, not religion itself. “Our fight is not against religion; it is against discrimination in the name of religion. I take pride in my faith — my name itself is inspired by one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Faith should unite people, not divide them,” he said.
Kharge also criticised the FIR against Rahul Gandhi following his visit to Haldwani to protest an alleged “suddhikaran” incident, saying it pointed to shrinking space for dissent. He further targeted the BJP over the Ayodhya Ram temple donation controversy, saying, “I pray to Lord Ram to open his eyes and punish those who have looted wealth in his name.”