Ponnam asks the BJP to reveal the numbers of foreign nationals listed in the SIR

Transport and BC Minister Ponnam Prabhakar demanded that the Center disclose how many foreign nationals have been identified and deported after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Responding to Mr Shah’s remarks, Mr Ponnam questioned the BJP’s campaign against the Congress on the issue of illegal immigrants and voting rights. He said the Congress was against allowing foreigners to vote. But he asked why such people could secure voting rights when Mr. Shah himself headed the Union Home Ministry.

Mr. Ponnam said the Congress was questioning the deletion of eligible voters, but the BJP had not responded. He urged the Center to hold a debate on the SIR exercise in the next session of Parliament and provide evidence to support its claims.

He also alleged that forms seeking deletion of voters’ names were distributed from BJP and RSS offices and questioned the Home Secretary’s silence on the matter.

Mr Ponnam said the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress was fighting to protect democracy and against what he described as the authoritarian approach of the BJP-led government.

Published – 02 Nov 2026 22:33 IST