Dehradun, Sept. 28 -- Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday hit out at the Congress over its allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying the party should introspect on its political and organisational weaknesses instead of using administrative and constitutional issues as a "political shield" to create confusion among people. Addressing a press conference on SIR, Dhami said the present generation was aware and capable of making decisions based on facts. "Political parties should examine facts before making allegations on sensitive issues, particularly those concerning the future of the youth," he said. On the Election Commission and the controversy surrounding SIR, Dhami said constitutional institutions formed the "foundation of India's democracy" and described the Election Commission as an "independent constitutional institution". He referred to the full Commission meeting held on September 26, attended by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Dhami said the note issued after the meeting carried the approval of the entire Commission. He said the Commission had clarified that its June 24, 2025 order on SIR was approved unanimously by the full Commission. Subsequent SIR schedules for 12 states and Union territories, and later for 19 states and Union territories, were also approved unanimously, he said. "Internal remarks should not be portrayed as evidence of disagreement over the Commission's final decisions," Dhami said. Referring to reports that the two Election Commissioners had raised at least 14 objections on various issues, he said the Commission's position was that its final SIR orders had been adopted unanimously. Dhami cited the Supreme Court's May 27, 2026 judgment, saying it upheld the Election Commission's statutory authority to conduct SIR and found the Bihar exercise consistent with the Representation of the People Act and Article 324 of the Constitution. He said the Commission had also clarified that a letter to the Cabinet Secretary concerned an administrative matter involving an officer on deputation. On Form-6, Dhami said the Commission's September 26 note stated that the declaration associated with the form during SIR was backed by a Supreme Court judgment. On concerns over ECINet, Dhami said the Commission had "ordered an independent technical review by a committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT". He said the Commission had also decided to circulate the agenda of its meetings in advance and release their minutes in future. "Questions must be asked in a democracy, but it is inappropriate to present an internal note as a final decision or to portray an objection as an institutional breakdown," Dhami said. Responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations concerning the "cheating mafia", Dhami said continuous action had been taken against those involved in irregularities in recruitment examinations and, according to government records, more than 100 accused had been sent to jail. He said a stringent anti-cheating law had also been implemented in Uttarakhand to ensure the integrity and transparency of recruitment examinations. Dhami added that "more than 35,000 youths had been provided government jobs over the past five years and that transparency in the recruitment process remained a priority". "One should examine the facts before making political allegations regarding a sensitive issue like the future of the youth. Merely making accusations does not alter the ground reality," he said. Dhami also urged political leaders to maintain language and decorum while referring to recent controversies involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late mother, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former CDS General Bipin Rawat. He said political disagreement had its place but respect and sensitivity should be maintained in public discourse concerning people who had made significant contributions to national security and those who had passed away. On electoral defeats, Dhami said it was not appropriate to attribute them to EVMs or constitutional institutions. He said a person holding an important constitutional position such as Leader of the Opposition was expected to demonstrate seriousness and rely on facts in public discourse. "Instead of attributing their electoral defeat to EVMs or constitutional institutions, the Congress should introspect on its political and organisational performance. In a democracy, the trust of the people is ultimately the true litmus test," the CM said. Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee senior vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana accused Dhami of resorting to rhetoric over SIR. Dhasmana said the BJP was attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party instead of addressing the issues raised in the media report on SIR. "People have now become aware of vote theft and the collusion between the Election Commission and the BJP," he said....