BJP flags ‘threats’ to officials conducting SIR in West Bengal, Jharkhand

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (November 24, 2025) expressed concern over “threats” against officials involved in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in some States ruled by Opposition parties.

At a press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi stated that, according to media reports, Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari allegedly said that any booth-level officer of the Election Commission who comes to gather information from people “should be taken hostage”.

“I want to ask the INDI alliance members: Is this not a reprehensible attempt to hold democracy hostage? Your leaders are openly making such calls — does this not endanger the Constitution?,” he asked.

He said in a separate incident in West Bengal, Jamirul Islam Mulla, a booth-level agent allegedly associated with the Trinamool Congress, was accused of threatening an election official over the phone. “Isn’t this happening because the Leader of the Opposition himself makes baseless and unfounded allegations about the electoral roll revision, and the Chief Minister of West Bengal gives statements that indirectly incite?” Mr. Trivedi asked.

Referring to a protest against air pollution at India Gate, where posters condemning the killing of Maoist leader Madvi Hidma were displayed on Sunday (November 23, 2025), the BJP leader said, “These are the same people who, when more than 75 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) soldiers were killed in Chhattisgarh in 2010, as reported in the media, celebrated in Delhi. There were celebrations even in the hostels of the country’s prestigious universities. I think that mindset is still alive.”