Kishan Reddy slams Congress over Delhi protests and voter roll allegations
Hyderabad: Union Minister Kishan Reddy criticised the Congress over its Delhi protests and allegations concerning electoral rolls. In his remarks, Kishan Reddy on Congress accused Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders of misusing democratic rights. He spoke to the media in Delhi on Tuesday amid demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Kishan Reddy recalled earlier protests demanding the Lok Sabha Speaker’s resignation. He claimed those demonstrations had made the opposition a subject of ridicule. The minister also objected to opposition leaders targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Questioning the opposition’s approach, Kishan Reddy asked whether India belonged to the Gandhi family as private property. He accused Rahul Gandhi of making irresponsible statements and said the public was watching his conduct.
Kishan Reddy on Congress and the Election Commission row
Kishan Reddy alleged that Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was making inconsistent statements and trying to match Rahul Gandhi’s rhetoric. He accused the Congress of including Muslim minorities among backward classes in a way that divided Muslim and Hindu backward communities. According to the minister, this approach had harmed backward-class groups.
The Union minister also criticised Congress leaders for invoking Hindu religious figures in political statements. He accused the party of taking contradictory positions on references to Lord Rama and Lord Shiva. Revanth Reddy also came under attack over the Delhi protests. Kishan Reddy alleged that his government restricted demonstrations in Telangana and carried out preventive arrests.
Rejecting the Congress’s attempt to blame the Election Commission for its electoral defeats, Kishan Reddy said voters had the right to reject political parties. He argued that the Congress could not hold the poll panel responsible whenever it lost an election.
Dispute over voter deletions
The minister questioned Rahul Gandhi’s claim that around 200 officials were in contact with him and wanted Prime Minister Modi to step down. Kishan Reddy asked whom the Congress leader was trying to intimidate through such remarks.
On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he challenged the Congress to provide evidence of wrongful deletions. He said Booth Level Agents (BLAs) had opportunities to identify errors and seek corrections. Kishan Reddy questioned why Congress-appointed agents had not addressed alleged mistakes through the available process.
Citing recent local body election defeats in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tripura, Kishan Reddy noted that voters had used ballot papers in those elections. He argued that the results could not be blamed on the Chief Election Commissioner or the Central Election Commission.
He also questioned the Congress’s performance in the 2014, 2019 and 2024 elections. The minister said the current SIR controversy could not explain the party’s defeats in those years.
Delhi protests and their impact
Kishan Reddy accused the Congress of disrupting public life in Delhi during the festive season. He said demonstrations near Jantar Mantar had blocked roads and affected small traders. He further alleged that foreign forces were conspiring to damage India’s economy.
The minister also accused the Congress of having a history of corruption and disrespecting prominent leaders. He cited former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, B. R. Ambedkar and N. T. Rama Rao as examples. Kishan Reddy said the party’s political record had contributed to its rejection by voters.