Is Rajasthan Congress Fighting Against 'Vote Theft' in Jaipur?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rajasthan Congress organized a protest against alleged vote theft.
- Govind Singh Dotasra leads the movement, emphasizing the need for electoral integrity.
- Rahul Gandhi's allegations of fraud are central to the protest's narrative.
- The party plans to engage the public through awareness campaigns and candle marches.
- Accusations against the Election Commission highlight concerns over electoral fairness.
Jaipur, Aug 13 (NationPress) The Rajasthan Congress, spearheaded by President Govind Singh Dotasra, conducted a foot march titled ‘Vote Chor - Gaddi Chhod’ from the party headquarters to Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur on Wednesday. They accused the BJP of attempting to cover up issues related to vote theft, following revelations of extensive electoral fraud across the nation by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
The demonstration saw participation from notable figures including former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilot, and various Congress MLAs and officials.
In his address, Dotasra asserted that Rahul Gandhi's disclosures indicated that the BJP-led central government had been established through fraudulent votes. He emphasized, “The slogan ‘Vote Chor – Gaddi Chhod’ resonates nationwide. The BJP's actions threaten democracy by seizing power through fabricated votes and by deleting numerous opposition voters from the rolls under the pretext of SIR.”
Dotasra claimed that multiple constituencies in Rajasthan were impacted by vote theft and criticized the Election Commission for not providing the requested digital voter list to Congress.
“Our leaders are committed to unveiling this fraud in Rajasthan. It will soon be evident that Rahul Gandhi's allegations are entirely valid,” Dotasra asserted.
He announced an extensive public movement against vote theft, revealing that on August 14 at 8 PM, District Congress Committees will conduct a ‘Vote Chor – Gaddi Chhod’ candle march at all district headquarters, supplemented by public awareness initiatives.
Dotasra accused BJP leaders of behaving like tyrants, infringing upon the Constitution, and employing “Saam-Daam-Dand-Bhed” to maintain their grip on power.
“We will extend this campaign to every village and hamlet across the state,” he declared.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot joined the march, stating that the nation is awakening against the alleged #VoteChori by the Election Commission, favoring the BJP.
In a media interaction, Sachin Pilot remarked that rather than addressing the allegations, the BJP was choosing to defend them.
“They are requesting an affidavit from Rahul Gandhi. The government should refrain from this interference. The ECI has a moral and constitutional obligation to guarantee that every vote is legitimate. We have merely asked for an investigation, yet they refuse,” he said.
Pilot claimed that in several constituencies, thousands of votes were manipulated, with fake names and addresses inserted, while authentic voters were removed.
He further questioned the exclusion of a member from the process, the withholding of voter lists, and the destruction of CCTV footage, referring to it as an effort to eliminate evidence.
“When Rahul Gandhi highlighted the theft, the ECI remained mute while the BJP defended it. What legitimacy does the BJP possess? The ECI is the essence of democracy and must safeguard it. Instead, notices are issued, affidavits demanded, MPs detained, and leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge arrested,” Pilot stated.
He reiterated that Congress has substantiated its claims with evidence.
“The silence from the ECI indicates there is something to conceal. This campaign is not just a fleeting protest but a long-term battle. Tomorrow, candle marches and nationwide demonstrations will occur. This is about preserving India’s democracy. Elections result in wins and losses, but erasing numerous legitimate votes and compromising the ECI’s autonomy is a severe threat to the nation,” he concluded.