Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led Union NDA government’s claim about “infiltrators” is bogus, as it has detected only 2,400 such individuals in its 11-year rule, while the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had deported 88,000 during its 10-year tenure from 2004 to 2014.
Addressing media persons in Bhopal, Singh also dismissed the Union government’s ongoing countrywide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, terming it a “mere eyewash.”
“An atmosphere is being created to benefit the BJP in elections,” Singh alleged.
“Despite continuously raising the issue of ‘infiltrators,’ the NDA has not even identified three per cent of the number we deported during the UPA regime,” the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said.
Arguing that “99 per cent of Indians do not possess citizenship certificates,” Singh claimed that documents considered valid in 2003 such as birth certificates, ration cards, and school certificates were now being replaced by a demand for citizenship certificates.
He further said that earlier, it was the duty of the Election Commission to ensure that every citizen could exercise their right to vote, but in 2025, the rules of the SIR had been “twisted.”
“Now, the onus to prove citizenship has been shifted to the people under the SIR. What will happen if a person fails to prove their citizenship?” Singh questioned.
He also alleged irregularities in the voter lists and urged the Election Commission to freeze electoral rolls immediately after the announcement of elections to prevent any addition or deletion of names.