Congress leader alleges SIR exercise threatens voters’ rights; party submits memorandum to President through Kotgarh Tehsildar
Shimla, October 14: All India Congress Committee spokesperson and Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of undermining the impartiality and constitutional authority of the Election Commission. Addressing a Block Congress Committee meeting in Kotgarh, he alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise could deprive more than 13 crore voters across the country of their voting rights.
Rathore alleged that the exercise amounted to an attack on the country’s democratic system and Constitution. He accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of working in collusion with the BJP and demanded his dismissal from office. He also called for a sedition case against the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Congress leader said Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was fighting to protect democracy and the Constitution, and urged people across the country and Himachal Pradesh to support the campaign. He alleged that the Election Commission was acting at the BJP’s behest and claimed that the party was attempting to destabilise elected opposition governments and undermine the electoral process. Rathore appealed to people to exercise their voting rights responsibly and work collectively to strengthen the Congress.
Shimla Rural District Congress Committee president Harikrishna Himral said a special campaign had been launched across the state, following a call by the All India Congress Committee and under the directions of Himachal Pradesh Congress president Vinay Kumar, to raise awareness about voters’ rights. Himral thanked Rathore for attending the meeting and said the Congress would organise awareness programmes and protests against what it described as vote theft across all blocks of the district.
Several party leaders and workers attended the meeting and protest, including former Shimla Rural District Congress Committee president Sudhir Bhaik and Theog Block Congress Committee president Sanjay Sharma, along with Mamta Thakur, Bhupendra Kaushal, Prem Kaithla, Majendra Rajta, Kritika Negi, Naveen Kalta and other party functionaries.
Following the meeting, a delegation led by Himral submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India through the Kotgarh Tehsildar, seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.The Congress said it would continue its campaign to inform voters about their electoral rights and raise its objections to the SIR exercise.
