The INDIA Bloc MPs, spearheaded by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will embark on a significant march from the Parliament building to the Election Commission office in New Delhi. They are geared up to protest against alleged 'vote theft' during the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list. This march will be joined by notable figures like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, among 300 other members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
To accommodate the parliamentarians, arrangements for dinner have been made with an invitation extended by Mallikarjun Kharge. More than 25 parties, including RJD, TMC, and DMK, are expected to participate. The march is scheduled to start at 11:30 AM from the Parliament's Makar Gate, advancing towards Transport Bhawan. Contrary to reports, sources reveal that neither Congress nor other opposition parties have sought permission from Delhi Police for this march.
Rahul Gandhi Targets Election Commission, Launches Web Portal
Rahul Gandhi consistently challenges the Election Commission with his recent launch of a web portal which allows individuals to support the demand for a digital voter list.
Demand for Digital Voter List and Social Media Appeal
By posting on social media platform X, Rahul articulated, 'Stealing votes is against our democratic principles. The principle of one person, one vote is under attack. To ensure free and fair elections, a clean voter list is essential.'
Source: aajtak
Rahul Gandhi's Warning on Voter List Transparency
He emphasized the urgency for transparency by declaring the digital voter list public and allowing audits by citizens and political entities.
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Evidence of Fake Votes and Congress Allegations
Rahul urged people to register and show support at the web portal 'votechori.in/ecdemand', describing this as a fight to preserve democracy.
Rahul condemned the Election Commission for suppressing his queries on Facebook, accusing Modi's government and the Commission of collaboration while the opposition is duty-bound to preserve democracy by exposing 'vote theft'.
A video on the web portal features Rahul reiterating that the BJP and the Election Commission are complicit in vote theft.
The Congress party alleged that over 100,000 fake votes were discovered in just one constituency in Bengaluru Central, aiding the BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha seat.
Gandhi revealed evidence of 100,250 stolen votes in Mahadevapura constituency, including:
11,965 duplicate voters
40,009 fake/invalid addresses
10,452 bulk voters or multiple voters at a single address
4,132 voters with invalid photographs
33,692 new voters misusing Form-6
Out of 40,009 invalid addresses, Congress noted that 30,000+ addresses were listed as '0', '00', 'No 0', '-', '#', etc.
Source: aajtak
Election Commission's Tough Stance on Rahul Gandhi's Accusations
The Election Commission took a firm stance against Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, demanding he either provide affidavits supporting his accusations on the voter list or apologize to the nation. His claims suggested electoral manipulation by the Commission to benefit the BJP in the 2024 elections, citing specific discrepancies such as duplicate voters, fake addresses, and bulk voting.
The Election Commission, countering the accusations, described them as 'old wine in a new bottle', misleading the public. It asserted the inaccuracy of claims regarding multiple registrations or various names at a single address.
BJP Counters Rahul Gandhi's Allegations
The BJP counterattacked, accusing Rahul of spreading falsehoods to mislead the public, terming it preemptive panic ahead of electoral defeat. They further accused him of intimidating constitutional bodies.
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Chhattisgarh CM’s View on the March
Amidst questions raised on the Election Commission by the opposition, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai remarked that challenging the Commission is inappropriate. He highlighted that the narrative shifts only during defeats while the same Commission and EVMs are deemed credible when favorable results occur.
Shiv Sena Leader Shaina NC's Critique on the MPs March
Shiv Sena’s Shaina NC launched a fierce attack on the MPs’ march to the Election Commission, stating they are oblivious to the reason for this exercise. She argued the recurring accusations of voter list fraud against a transparent Election Commission are baseless.
SP Leader Rajiv Rai on the Delhi March
Rajiv Rai, a Samajwadi Party MP, stated that in a democracy, roads should not remain silent when voices go unheard. Expressing the need to present a mirror to the government and convey the opposition’s stance to the Election Commission, he emphasized the critical role of public demonstration when dialogue falters.
Senior Congress Leader Digvijaya Singh on the March
Digvijaya Singh validated facts presented by Rahul Gandhi as indisputable, citing recurrent appearances of individual names at multiple polling stations. He highlighted Rahul’s demand for electronic voter list data to verify instances of multiple votes tied to a single EPIC number.
Singh announced that all non-BJP and NDA alliance MPs would march alongside the Election Commission, championing this cause.
Opposition Solidarity Pre-Bihar Assembly Elections
This march, ahead of the Bihar elections expected later this year, is perceived as pivotal. Uniting opposition forces sends a strong message to the ruling party.
On August 7, Rahul Gandhi, in a media interaction, levied grave accusations against the Election Commission, alleging collusion with BJP, which purportedly erodes democracy through opaque procedures.
Opposition Resistance to Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
The opposition, including Congress and RJD, vehemently opposes the SIR process implemented by the Election Commission in Bihar, accusing it of large-scale manipulation in the voter list, with prominent leaders’ names being erased. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, alongside Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and others, labeled this as an assault on democracy.
RJD has approached the Supreme Court demanding transparency and fairness, claiming the disenfranchisement of millions. Despite no formal objections from any political party during the 1-10 August window, opposition protests persist.
