'Not talking on behalf of EC': Union minister says 'no proof' of EC-SIR row, slams oppn

NEW DELHI: Union minister Prahlad Joshi on Saturday hit out at the opposition over its protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying there was no “concrete proof” to support the allegations being raised against the Election Commission.Reacting to the opposition's claims, Joshi said the protest was an expression of the “pain” caused by its electoral defeat. He said the SIR issue was being used to voice that distress.“The pain in their hearts caused by their defeat... they are trying to express that distress through the SIR issue,” Joshi said.His remarks came in response to questions about a report published by The Indian Express, which cited concerns allegedly raised within the Election Commission over the SIR exercise.