Pak politicians funding campaign against SIR: Min

Bengaluru: Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh on Tuesday alleged that Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijit Dipke received funds from the USA, while its co-founder Ashutosh Ranka received money from Pakistan. He further charged that anti-India organisations and foreign-funded groups, including Pakistani politicians, were financing a campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and accused “self-styled activists” of manufacturing a false narrative.

Addressing a press conference here, Singh named Abhijit Dipke and Ashutosh Ranka while making the allegations. The minister in charge of the science and technology department said foreign-funded NGOs, deep-state operatives and anti-India forces were behind the campaign, and cited the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) as a measure aimed at checking the flow of foreign funds.

“There is sufficient evidence to show that they are being funded by unauthorised sources, including anti-India NGOs and anti-India organisations operating within and outside the country,” he said. “Those who have appointed themselves as leaders are receiving funds from foreign sources. Dipke has been receiving funds from US-based donors.

Ashutosh Ranka has been paid by Pakistani politicians and is also receiving funds through his handlers,” the minister alleged. He said a woman who took part in the anti-SIR campaign was also receiving funds during Operation Sindoor.

Singh said intelligence inputs and available statistics established three points: the allegations against the SIR had no basis or proof; those making them lacked credibility and their sources of funding and mobilisation of resources needed to be examined; they were manufacturing a false narrative because they were losing ground.

Defending the electoral roll revision exercise, he said it had been conducted 12 times in the country, of which 10 were during Congress rule. He also cited former Union Minister Kapil Sibal’s earlier description of SIR as a “routine exercise”. He said the exercise was necessary to remove names of deceased voters, people who had shifted residences, duplicate entries and those who could not be traced, adding that the last SIR had been conducted 20 years ago.

Rejecting the Congress allegation that 13 crore voters had been deleted, Singh said the figure included 6.03 crore people who had shifted residences, three crore who could not be traced, around 2.80 crore deceased voters and cases of duplicate entries. He claimed that Karnataka alone had 7.10 lakh duplicate voters and 24.17 lakh deceased voters. “If the Election Commission has removed such names, it has served the country. It has worked towards strengthening Indian democracy,” he said.

“The SIR is proper in Karnataka. In states where the Congress is in power, the SIR is also proper. Wherever the Congress is not in power, the SIR is wrong,” he said sarcastically.

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