Guwahati: BJP on Wednesday held ‘Jan Jagaran’ rallies in Assam’s Guwahati, Jorhat and Silchar, accusing Congress and parties in INDIA bloc of undermining democratic institutions and spreading misinformation about Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The Guwahati rally, led by BJP state president Dilip Saikia, began at the Veterinary College playground in Khanapara and culminated at the Jyoti-Bishnu International Art Centre. The party claimed that more than 50,000 people attended the rally. It also claimed that more than 20,000 people participated in each of the rallies in Jorhat and Silchar.Addressing the gathering in Guwahati, Saikia alleged that Congress became restless whenever it lost elections and subsequently targeted constitutional institutions. He accused INDIA bloc of conspiring to undermine democratic institutions and diminish the prestige of the judiciary.“We will not allow these conspiracies to succeed,” Saikia said, questioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft. He asked why Gandhi had not submitted evidence to President if he had proof of electoral malpractice.Defending the SIR exercise, Saikia said around 13.3 crore names had been identified for deletion from electoral rolls across the country, including around 2.7 crore names of deceased voters and more than one crore duplicate entries. He questioned Congress’s opposition to the removal of such entries.Saikia also questioned Congress’s criticism of EVMs, arguing that opposition parties accepted their use in states where they won elections but questioned their credibility when they lost. He cited Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala in this context and challenged Congress to explain its position on EVMs.BJP launched the Jan Jagaran campaign in Nalbari on Oct 13 to counter what it described as misinformation surrounding the SIR exercise and Election Commission.In Jorhat, cabinet minister Pijush Hazarika said the rally reflected public support for BJP’s campaign.“We do not govern the people to exploit them. We serve them with dedication. That is why people have come forward spontaneously to participate in the Jan Jagaran rally against the Congress and forces opposed to the nation,” he said.In Silchar, cabinet ministers Kaushik Roy and Krishnendu Paul, MPs Parimal Suklabaidya and Rajdeep Roy, and several MLAs and senior leaders from the Barak Valley attended the rally.
