The All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary G.A. Mir announced today the launch of a nationwide signature campaign to collect 5 crore signatures over allegations of electoral fraud termed ‘Vote Chori’. This initiative targets the President of India as a petition against irregularities in the electoral process.
The campaign began on September 15 and will continue until October 15. Mir articulated the urgency of this movement while inaugurating the initiative in Omoh, Verinag, South Kashmir’s Anantnag. He emphasized that the drive aims to boost public awareness about voting rights and associated irregularities.
Mir criticized what he described as the complicity between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of orchestrating a scheme whereby approximately 65 lakh votes have been deleted in Bihar. He termed this act a “murder of democracy”.
“We are aiming for 5 crore signatures to present the petition to the President. Our campaign has made people aware of the importance of their vote and sensitized them to the protection of electoral rights,” Mir stated.
In his address, Mir expressed concerns that, in various parts of India, voters face challenges with vote deletions or unauthorized additions, along with barriers preventing them from accessing polling booths. He declared, “Vote Chori is a crime, a blot on democracy, and a direct assault on the electoral rights of people.”
Reflecting on broader implications, Mir noted that Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, has unveiled systematic manipulations, including deletion of genuine voters and registration of fake votes, which have been observed in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Bihar.
Under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress Party is set to counteract what they term the ‘ECI-BJP nexus’ to safeguard voter identity and uphold electoral rights across the nation.
“Powerful start to the Signature Campaign against ‘Vote Chori’ today in Doru Constituency, Anantnag! Hundreds of committed workers joined from my own polling booth to safeguard our democracy. Every signature counts! We won’t let our voices be stolen,” Mir passionately declared on social media.
Additionally, MLA Nizam Ud Din Bhat reinforced the campaign’s significance, portraying it as an “indigenous people’s movement” spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi. This campaign represents a collective effort to fortify democracy and protect voter rights in India.
Overall, the AICC aims not only to gather signatures but also to engage citizens in a dialogue on electoral integrity. This initiative strives to mobilize public sentiment against electoral malpractice while emphasizing the fundamental right to vote. As the campaign progresses, its success will depend on the responsiveness of the electorate and their commitment to preserving democratic values.
