Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Saturday accused the Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) of politicising the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Telangana and sought to allay apprehensions over the exercise, asserting that it was a routine constitutional process aimed at ensuring free and fair elections.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office here, Mr. Reddy said the revision of electoral rolls was a continuous legal and administrative exercise undertaken independently by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that every eligible citizen was able to exercise the right to vote while removing duplicate, ineligible and deceased voters from the rolls.

The Union Minister alleged that the Congress and the BRS were expressing ‘unnecessary fears’ over the SIR process and questioned the reasons behind their opposition to the exercise.

Referring to instances involving alleged illegal immigrants, Mr. Reddy claimed that cases in the past had revealed the presence of Rohingyas, Bangladeshis and illegal immigrants from Pakistan in Hyderabad, some of whom allegedly possessed voter identity cards, Aadhaar cards and ration cards. He said it would be irresponsible to ignore such issues and oppose efforts to cleanse the electoral rolls.

He criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for allegedly making provocative statements and accused political parties of attempting to link the SIR process with religion and citizenship to create fear among people.

Mr. Reddy alleged that some political leaders were attempting to pressure and intimidate officials involved in the SIR exercise. He specifically alleged that leaders of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in parts of the Old City were obstructing door-to-door surveys and pressuring BLOs to route forms through them.

The Union Minister also appealed to people from other districts and States who are currently residing in Hyderabad to register as voters in the city.