Margao: Congress Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare on Thursday accused BJP-led govt of using the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to undermine citizens’ democratic rights, and criticised the functioning of the Election Commission.“BJP has won the last five elections, but it cannot assume that it has won the right to decide who should vote and who should not,” Thakare said, adding that the poll panel is a constitutional institution and not an extension of govt. He alleged that BJP was afraid of facing voters and was creating confusion around electoral rolls. “BJP should fight elections with votes, not with deletions,” he said, promising that Congress would fight “from the streets to the courts”.Goa Youth Congress staged a protest at Azad Maidan against BJP-led govt and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation. Youth Congress president Archit Naik alleged that Kumar had become a “puppet of Modi”.Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira questioned the rationale and transparency of the SIR and alleged that BJP was using roll revision as a political strategy ahead of the elections.Congress functionaries urged the Election Commission to ensure no eligible voter is excluded from the rolls and warned of intensifying their agitation until complete transparency is ensured.
