SRINAGAR: Around 5,000 Congress leaders and workers from Jammu and Kashmir will participate in a national rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 1 to protest alleged electoral irregularities, party leaders said.
The rally is being organised under the Congress’s “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” campaign and is expected to draw party workers and leaders from across the country, along with members of the INDIA bloc.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Congress Pradesh Committee working president Raman Bhalla said workers from every district of Jammu and Kashmir would attend the rally against what the party describes as “vote chori”.
He alleged that the electoral system was being undermined and said the Congress campaign, led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, had received a strong public response.
Bhalla also accused the BJP of attempting to counter the campaign and alleged that the party’s local unit had tried to attack the Congress headquarters in Jammu on more than two occasions over the past couple of weeks. He said the opposition campaign was gaining support.
Jammu Rural Congress president Neeraj Kundan alleged that changes to the law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners were intended to facilitate electoral manipulation. He objected to the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, claiming the change was contrary to Supreme Court directions.
Kundan further alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and other processes were being used to manipulate electoral rolls and remove the names of genuine voters in large numbers. He said Rahul Gandhi had highlighted the alleged irregularities following investigations over the past year.
He also accused the government of granting special immunity to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after his retirement to facilitate electoral manipulation.
