Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday, 14 October launched a sharp attack on Opposition parties, branding them 'anarchic' and accusing their leaders of pursuing personal power rather than public interest. Her remarks came in direct response to protests by the Opposition over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of draft electoral rolls, which rival parties claim has disenfranchised millions of voters.

Gupta's Broadside Against the Opposition

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Gupta trained her fire particularly on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging a pattern of erratic conduct. 'These are anarchic parties and anarchic leaders. Sometimes he assaults a reporter who is pregnant, sometimes he attacks the police, and sometimes he beats up his own party workers. They are concerned only with themselves. They want all the attention, want only their voices to be heard and want to remain in power,' she said.

Gupta also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), questioning why it was opposing the SIR exercise after its electoral defeat in Delhi, noting that the party had not raised similar objections when it came to power following elections held after an earlier SIR round.

Defending the SIR: 'Why No Objections Earlier?'

On the substance of the electoral rolls controversy, Gupta argued that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has conducted Special Intensive Revisions multiple times across varying political dispensations at both the state and central level. 'Special Intensive Revision has been carried out several times, and the Election Commission has always conducted it, regardless of which party was in power at the state or central level. Why were there no objections then? Why are such objections being raised now?' she asked.

Citing the example of Delhi, she noted that the last SIR in the capital was held in 2002, when the Congress was also in power at the Centre. She questioned the party's subsequent electoral trajectory, asking whether it had managed to win even a single seat in Delhi after 2015. 'The people have completely rejected the Congress, and that is what is troubling these political parties,' she claimed.

Cabinet Resolution on PM Modi's 25 Years of Service

Gupta also confirmed that the Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution marking 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public service. 'The entire Cabinet congratulated the Prime Minister and expressed its gratitude for the way he has consistently worked to improve the standard of living of the people, advance the country's progress and promote the development of states,' she said, adding that the resolution conveyed gratitude from 2 crore people of Delhi.

Healthcare and Infrastructure Milestones Cited

The Chief Minister highlighted healthcare achievements, stating that the Ayushman Bharat scheme was adopted in the very first Cabinet meeting of her government. Under the scheme, the Centre provides health coverage of ₹5 lakh per beneficiary, with the Delhi government adding another ₹5 lakh. She said more than 9 lakh people had enrolled so far and that around 65,000 claims worth ₹118 crore had been settled. The government is also working towards establishing approximately 1,100 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, she added.

On infrastructure, Gupta stated that road projects worth ₹1.25 lakh crore had been completed, were underway, or were in the planning stage in Delhi over the past 12 years with support from the Centre. 'Delhi is now moving towards decongestion, and we are able to achieve this with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' she said. She also criticised the AAP-governed Punjab over what she alleged was a large-scale drug menace, claiming that people raising their voices against the problem face serious consequences. As the political battle over the SIR intensifies ahead of future electoral cycles, Gupta's remarks signal the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s intent to frame the Opposition's protests as self-serving rather than rights-based.