Shimla, Nov. 2 -- Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a sharp attack on the Congress party over its opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls while accusing the party of supporting "ineligible" voters. Addressing a rally in Shimla after Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'save democracy, remove anarchy' padyatra on Sunday, Sarma said, "The opposition of the SIR is not merely about the revision of voter lists, rather, it is an attempt to reinstate the ideology of Babar and Aurangzeb. Those who supported the Babri Masjid are seeking to advance such a political agenda by leveling allegations of vote theft." Defending SIR, the Assam CM said, "Maintaining accurate voter lists was essential for protecting the integrity of Indian democracy." He went on to challenge Congress leader Rahul Gandhi "to declare that he would not contest an election as long as Gyanesh Kumar remained the chief election commissioner if he genuinely believed that the electoral process was compromised. Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly alleged electoral irregularities but had failed to substantiate his claims." Sarma accused Congress of spreading confusion about the revision exercise and alleged that its opposition was politically motivated. "We steal hearts of people, not votes," said Sarma. Taking direct aim at Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Sarma questioned why Congress leaders were protesting against electronic voting machines (EVMs) when the same electoral system had brought their government to power in Himachal Pradesh. Addressing a public meeting at Chaura Maidan following the BJP's payatra on Sunday, former Himachal CM and Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, hit out at Sukhu over his participation in the Delhi protest. "Even Sukhu has taken a group of people to protest, claiming that votes are being stolen. It is incomprehensible how he can make such an assertion. Sukhu himself came to power by stealing votes-securing a mandate through deceptive guarantees -and yet, today, he is protesting against the very Election Commission that oversaw the process. He ought to resign from his position before engaging in such actions". However, the state Congress has termed BJP's padayatra a failed attempt to divert public attention from the issue of "vote theft." State general secretary (organisation) Vinod Zinta lashed out at the BJP, stating that the party's countdown has begun nationwide. He asserted that the nation will never forgive the BJP for the grave sin-committed in collusion with Gyanesh Kumar-of disenfranchising 13 crore voters. State Congress president Vinay Kumar, speaking during the "save the vote, save the nation" rally organised by the INDIA bloc at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, described the event as the beginning of a mass movement to protect democracy against the BJP-led central government. He said that the BJP can no longer suppress the nation's voice, which is rising to defend democracy and the Constitution....