Congress president attacks government and Election Commission at CWC meeting; calls for transparency in electoral rolls and protection of every eligible voter’s rightsNew Delhi.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused the central government of allegedly weakening the foundations of Indian democracy over the past 12 years. Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, Kharge also raised serious questions about the Election Commission and electoral rolls.The meeting was attended by Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other CWC members.Kharge said the Congress once again had a historic responsibility to protect democracy and the Constitution. Referring to the freedom struggle, he said the right to vote had been secured through a long struggle and alleged that the same right was now under threat.According to Kharge, the foundations of democracy built through the sacrifices of India's freedom fighters had been weakened over the past 12 years. He alleged that voters' names were being removed from electoral rolls and questioned the independence of the Chief Election Commissioner.Kharge Raises Questions Over Electoral RollsKharge invoked the views of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on voting rights and said that every eligible citizen should be protected from arbitrary exclusion from electoral rolls.He alleged that officials were removing names from voter lists at the direction of the BJP and the central government. Kharge argued that voting rights were fundamental to democratic participation, particularly for poor and disadvantaged sections of society.He also referred to the reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988 and alleged that changes to Form 6 rules could adversely affect young voters.Reference to Rahul Gandhi's Electoral Roll AllegationsKharge said Rahul Gandhi had raised questions about voter data in Mahadevapura, Aland and in Haryana and Maharashtra, including allegations concerning duplicate voters, incorrect addresses, multiple voters registered at the same address and Form 6 entries.Kharge argued that greater attention to such issues by the Election Commission could have helped maintain public confidence in the institution.Questions Over the Election Commission and SIRThe Congress president also questioned the Election Commission's functioning and raised questions about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.He asked who had taken the decision regarding SIR and questioned why two election commissioners had allegedly been excluded from an internal portal. Kharge called for greater institutional transparency and independence in the electoral process.Congress Lists Five DemandsKharge outlined five demands concerning electoral transparency:Complete data on major changes to electoral rolls should be made public.Voters whose names are removed should receive information and an opportunity to appeal.Political parties should receive relevant electoral-roll data in a simple format and within a reasonable timeframe.Serious discrepancies should be investigated independently and within a defined timeframe.Important electoral data and decisions should be handled transparently so that there is no allegation of information being withheld.He said voters must have confidence that their votes are secure and that elections are conducted fairly.'Democracy and Constitution Are Permanent'Kharge said the Congress does not view the issue merely as a battle over winning or losing an election. Governments and elections change, he said, but democracy and the Constitution remain fundamental to the country.He called on CWC members to adopt a clear resolution supporting transparent electoral rolls, fair elections, independent institutions and protection of every eligible citizen's voting rights.Kharge Also Targets Government Over DemonetisationKharge compared his criticism of the alleged changes to electoral processes with his criticism of demonetisation, saying the poor had suffered the most from government policies.He alleged that while poor people had stood in queues during demonetisation, they could now potentially be excluded from the electoral process through what he termed "votebandi."Kharge said the vote was the most important source of political power for poor, Dalit, disadvantaged and marginalised communities and alleged that the government was attempting to take away that right.Calls for Accountability Ahead of Five State ElectionsKharge also referred to disagreements involving election commissioners and alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner had acted arbitrarily and unfairly. He called for accountability and said the Prime Minister should resign on moral grounds.With elections scheduled in five states, Kharge said it was essential to ensure that no eligible voter was deprived of the right to vote and that the electoral process remained transparent and fair.He concluded by saying that protecting voters' rights, ensuring institutional independence and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process were essential for the future of Indian democracy.
