In a bold statement on Thursday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of shielding individuals responsible for vote manipulation, calling them ‘vote chors.’ The press conference, held at the Congress’ Indira Bhawan headquarters, aimed to highlight alleged voter deletions reported ahead of elections.
Gandhi called for immediate action, demanding the Election Commission provide crucial information within a week related to an investigation by the Karnataka CID concerning the deletion of voter records.
At the heart of his allegations were claims about systematic vote deletions by anonymous entities in Karnataka’s Aland constituency. Gandhi’s assertions followed a pattern he described nationwide, emphasizing his intention to expose rigged elections to the country’s youth.
Serious Allegations of Vote Manipulation
With confidence, Gandhi stated, “I am the leader of opposition and I will not say anything which is not backed by 100 percent proof.” This stern assertion lent his allegations a sense of responsibility, further emphasizing the severity of the situation.
He referred to instances where, in the Aland constituency, an attempt was made to delete as many as 6,018 votes. “Someone has been systematically targeting millions of voters for deletion across India,” he alleged, outlining the intricate methods this operation possibly employs.
Evidence of Systematic Voter Deletion
Gandhi narrated how a booth-level officer uncovered a fraudulent voter deletion after noticing a family member’s name was missing. She learned that a neighbor had reportedly erased the vote through deceptive means.
“It was found that some other force hijacked the process and deleted the vote — and as luck would have it got caught,” he explained.
By citing specific regions like Karnataka’s Aland and Maharashtra’s Rajura constituencies, Gandhi illustrated broader trends in vote manipulation through automated software, alleging the creation of spurious voter applications.
“6,018 applications were filed impersonating voters using mobile numbers from outside Karnataka,” he claimed, asserting that these deletions are occurring on a grand scale.
Demands for Transparency from the Election Commission
Gandhi directed part of his criticism towards the Election Commission, insisting that inaction constitutes complicity. “They know who is doing this. I want every youngster in India to know this,” he said passionately.
In atmosphere charged with urgency, he claimed the Election Commission had repeatedly avoided fulfilling requests from the Karnataka CID. “They are not giving it because it will lead us to where this operation is being conducted,” he stated, showcasing a clear call for transparency.
The Congress leader explained that the CID had sent 18 letter requests over the past 18 months seeking simple data like the destination IP providing insights into these fraudulent applications.
Call to Action for Young Voters
Gandhi’s remarks represent a part of a broader campaign message, aiming to rally young voters against perceived injustices in the electoral process. As he concluded, he referenced his ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra.
He asserted, “When they are not giving this information, they are defending the murderers of democracy,” a phrase designed to resonate with a tech-savvy youth eager to protect their democratic rights.
He had previously hinted at unveiling a significant revelation, suggesting that further alarming findings about alleged vote manipulation would soon be shared. “Wait for my hydrogen bomb of revelations,” he teased, promising that voters would learn more about this ongoing fiasco in due time.
Previous claims pointed to over one lakh votes allegedly being manipulated in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura segment, underlining the gravity of his charges. “Vote chori is an atom bomb on our democracy,” he declared, further stressing the urgency of the matter.
