Shimla, Sep 25 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Congress on Friday held a protest outside the Election Commission office in Shimla demanding the immediate removal of Gyanesh Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner and his arrest over recent allegations of “vote theft”.
The Congress workers burned an effigy of Kumar, blackened the Commission’s board, and wrote “Chor Aayog” on it. They also raised slogans against the CEC and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
While the effigy was being burnt, a scuffle broke out between the party workers and the police.
Addressing the protesters, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said recent news reports have made it clear that the BJP is winning elections through vote theft.
“It has now become clear that the real culprits of vote theft are the Election Commission and CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Crores of people have been denied the right to cast their votes in the elections, resulting in the BJP winning elections with huge margins,” he said.
“Leader of Opposition (in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi has been raising this issue for a very long time. He has been saying that elections are being stolen with the help of the Election Commission. Now, news reports about the two Election Commissioners raising objections (to decisions taken without their knowledge or recommendations) have made it clear that elections are being won by stealing votes. This is treason. Therefore, a case should be filed against Gyanesh Kumar,” Agnihotri said.
He hit out at the BJP leaders for trying to defend the Election Commission. “Allegations are being made against the Election Commission, but the BJP leaders are giving statements,” he alleged.
Demanding that the Central government immediately remove Kumar from the post, Agnihotri warned that a nationwide movement will be launched if not.
“Just like the education minister was removed earlier this year, people will launch a massive movement to ensure that Kumar is removed. Therefore, the BJP government should immediately sack him,” he said. PTI COR RUK
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