Haryana BJP chief targets Congress over Emergency, raises questions on 2009 Rohtak poll

Rohtak, October 26, 2026: BJP Haryana president Dr Archana Gupta on Monday accused the Congress of undermining democracy for political gains, alleging that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi curtailed democratic rights during the Emergency in 1975 to remain in power, while Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda won the 2009 Rohtak Lok Sabha election with the alleged special assistance of the then Jhajjar DC.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP office, Mangal Kamal, under the party’s ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ campaign, Dr Gupta launched a sharp attack on the Congress over its criticism of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. She alleged that the party, which had suppressed democratic rights in the past, was now spreading misinformation about the electoral process.

Referring to the Emergency, Dr Archna Gupta said the Allahabad High Court had invalidated Indira Gandhi’s election before the imposition of Emergency, during which civil liberties were curtailed, press freedom was restricted and opposition leaders were jailed. She questioned why the Congress had not apologised for the period.

Dr Gupta also sought clarification from Rohtak MP, Deepender Hooda over his alleged remarks about receiving special assistance from the then Rohtak DC during the 2009 Lok Sabha election. She asked what the assistance entailed and whether any electoral irregularities had taken place. These allegations were made by the BJP leader at the press conference.

On SIR, she said Booth Level Officers had conducted door-to-door verification, with Booth Level Agents of various political parties also participating in the exercise. Citing Election Commission figures, she said around 13.39 crore voter entries across the country had been flagged under categories including deceased, permanently shifted, absent or untraceable, and duplicate entries.

She questioned the retention of such entries in electoral rolls, adding that the draft list was not final and eligible voters could apply for inclusion through Form 6.

Targeting the Congress over its allegations against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Gupta said opposition parties questioned the machines after electoral defeats but remained silent when they won. She asked how the Congress’s Lok Sabha tally rose from 56 seats in 2019 to 99 in 2024 if the machines were being used to manipulate elections.

Dr Gupta said political parties must substantiate their allegations with evidence. She added that BJP workers would organise press conferences and marches across Haryana to inform people about SIR and the electoral process.

BJP state general secretaries Gopal Sharma, Satyaprakash Jarawata and Ved Phulla, state media co-incharge Shamsher Khark were also present.