New Delhi, Dec 17 (NationPress) Union Minister Ramdas Athawale vehemently denied the assertions made by Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan regarding Operation Sindoor, labeling them as entirely false and misleading.

Athawale's response followed Chavan's claim that India experienced a setback on the first day of Operation Sindoor, indicating that Indian aircraft were shot down during the four-day military campaign. In reaction to these statements, the Union Minister described them as irresponsible and not reflective of the true nature of the operation.

In an interview with IANS, Ramdas Athawale stated, “I firmly assert that what Prithviraj Chavan has claimed is completely inaccurate. As a former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, one would expect more responsible comments from him. Operation Sindoor was a resounding success, resulting in the elimination of over 100 terrorists. Pakistan was left in a state of fear following the operation. Thus, portraying it as a defeat for India is utterly misleading.”

He further argued that misrepresenting a victorious military operation undermines national morale.

“We did not lose Operation Sindoor. On the contrary, it was a decisive action. However, the Congress party has faced defeat in the upcoming 2024 elections and lost in states like Bihar and Maharashtra. Such comments are inappropriate and reflect political frustration. Making these statements is fundamentally wrong,” Athawale added.

The Union Minister also addressed remarks made by West Bengal Governor C.V. Anand Bose concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. Bose indicated that the SIR process has led to the identification and expulsion of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators since its implementation.

Backing the Governor's comments, Athawale emphasized that the SIR process is crucial for maintaining electoral integrity.

“The Governor of West Bengal has explicitly stated that no one has the right to vote illegally. Since the SIR process commenced, numerous illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have repatriated to Bangladesh. This is a significant development. The SIR was essential for cleansing the voter rolls and safeguarding the voting rights of legitimate citizens,” Athawale said.

He also noted that even the Congress has expressed concerns about alleged ‘vote theft’ and wrongful removal of names from electoral rolls.

“The Congress itself demands no vote theft and insists names should not be removed arbitrarily. Thus, the SIR process cannot be labeled as anti-any party. It is a neutral initiative aimed at cleaning the voter list and protecting democratic rights. In that regard, the SIR was necessary,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Governor Bose remarked that infiltration became more apparent after the SIR process began, noting a visible return of illegal migrants from West Bengal to Bangladesh.

“Infiltration is a reality, and the SIR process has highlighted this issue. There is a noticeable trend of illegal migrants returning across the border. This phenomenon has been extensively studied. Regarding elections, the SIR will undoubtedly bring change and significantly cleanse the system,” Bose told IANS.

When questioned about the influence of illegal immigrants on elections, the Governor acknowledged that while the problem may not be entirely resolved, it has been substantially diminished. “After the SIR, the chances of illegal infiltrators affecting elections have decreased. I am not asserting that the issue is fully resolved, but it has indeed lessened,” he stated.

The SIR exercise in West Bengal commenced on December 4 and concluded on December 11. The process resulted in the departure of a considerable number of illegal Bangladeshi nationals and prompted protests by booth-level officers (BLOs), who cited work overload and tight deadlines.

Following the conclusion of the exercise, the Election Commission of India released the draft electoral rolls for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. As a result of the SIR process, over 58 lakh voter names have been flagged for removal.

The publication of the draft voter list signifies the end of the enumeration phase and the start of a more rigorous stage involving claims, objections, and hearings. The second phase of the three-stage SIR exercise is set to continue until February 2026, with the final voter list scheduled for publication on February 14, 2026, ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.