Hyderabad Rally Planned; BJP Accuses Congress of Voter List Lies

The BJP is planning a large rally in Hyderabad against Congress and other parties in Telangana, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to attend on November 2. Party spokesperson Ashok Musthapur made the announcement on October 30 and said the event would be one of the biggest in the city's history.

Musthapur said Shah's visit would benefit Hyderabad, the BJP and Telangana. He said the rally was intended to oppose Congress and protect democracy from what he described as disorder spread by the party.

He called on BJP workers and residents to participate in large numbers in the padyatra and support Shah's visit.

The party also rejected opposition allegations related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. N. Ramachandra Rao, the Uttar Pradesh BJP president, said false claims were still being spread. He pointed to a statement by Karnataka Congress minister Satish Jarkiholi, who said votes had not been removed and that the deleted votes were genuinely eligible for removal.

Rao said Rao said that anyone whose name had been removed could have it restored. The person must submit an application, provide proof of residence at the same address and show one of the 12 identity documents recognised by the Election Commission of India. He accused Congress of trying to turn the issue into a controversy without reason.

On the controversy over Form 7, Rao said it could be submitted by any BLA, BLO or political party. He explained that party-appointed BLAs visit homes with BLOs to check voter status. If a person has moved or is not living at the address, a report may be filed for removal. If that person returns, the Electoral Registration Officer can verify them again and add their name back to the voter list.

Rao said Congress leaders were nonetheless telling people that the votes of minorities were being removed everywhere. He called this a false campaign run by Congress and said the BJP would respond.