Lucknow, Oct 25 (PTI) Congress general secretary Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday accused the RSS and the BJP of shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the two organisations benefit the most from “vote theft”.
Addressing a programme, ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’, in Prayagraj, Baghel said the right to vote was the most important right of every citizen in a democracy.
“Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi have consistently exposed instances of ‘vote theft’ backed by substantial evidence,” he said, adding that reports of such incidents were emerging from various states.
Baghel, a former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, said people were deeply concerned about their voting rights, particularly those who supported peace and progress rather than what he described as the RSS and BJP’s politics of communal hatred.
“Instead of punishing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who is involved in ‘vote chori’, the RSS and BJP government is making every effort to shield him because they benefit the most from vote theft,” he alleged.
Baghel also appealed to people to vote against the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that it had done injustice to backward communities, farmers and labourers, according to a Congress statement.
Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam said the party was actively fighting on the streets to protect the rights of citizens. He urged voters in the state to remain alert and gather in large numbers at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
Anil Jaihind, national president of the Congress OBC Department, warned the BJP government against what he described as the theft of votes, elections and governance, as well as the denial of reservation and representation to the OBC community.
He said sustainable development was not possible without an accurate count of the OBC population and reservation, employment and resources in proportion to its share of the population. The Congress would not compromise on social justice, he added.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ said depriving any adult citizen of the right to vote in a democracy was akin to taking the life out of a living being. She called on people in the state to take to the streets to protect their voting rights.
Congress Legislative Party leader Virendra Chaudhary said the party had fought the first battle for freedom to liberate India from British rule and was now prepared, under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, to wage a second battle for freedom to oust the RSS-BJP government, which he described as dictatorial and accused of stealing votes, the statement said. PTI NAV
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