New Delhi, Dec 14 (NationPress) Rajendra Pal Gautam, the head of the Congress SC/ST wing, delivered a passionate speech at the "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" rally held at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday. He invoked the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar, cautioning against what he termed systematic efforts to erode democracy.

Gautam reminded the audience of India's historic battle for universal voting rights. He noted that prior to 1937, voting was limited to income tax payers, landlords, and graduates, while Dalits and other marginalized communities were barred from education and political engagement.

"Those who do not understand history cannot shape it," he emphasized, highlighting Babasaheb Ambedkar's relentless struggle for equal rights for every citizen.

He recalled how the Government of India Act of 1935 established the principle of "one man, one vote, one value" and acknowledged Dr. Ambedkar's contributions as the Labour Minister, which included reducing working hours from 14 to 8 and addressing irrigation and land rights while participating in 13 out of 18 committees that drafted the Indian Constitution.

"India is home to 6,743 castes and diverse religions, yet Babasaheb examined constitutions from around the globe to craft a comprehensive Charter for our nation," Gautam remarked.

Shifting focus to current political affairs, the Congress leader accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of orchestrating a "forged movement" under the guise of the Gujarat Model, claiming that fabricated scandals like Coalgate, 2G spectrum, and the Commonwealth Games were employed to tarnish political adversaries.

He asserted that social activists, including Anna Hazare, were manipulated to promote this narrative.

Gautam alleged that elections themselves are being compromised.

"They (BJP) are inserting time machines into EVMs to steal elections. They have privatized all PSUs, made education prohibitively expensive, and turned government jobs into contractual positions. This is a blatant attempt to dismantle democracy," he declared.

He stressed that the rally was not simply a Congress initiative but a collective endeavor to defend the Constitution of India.

"Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" is more than just our slogan. We are committed to preserving the Constitution," Gautam urged, calling upon citizens to stand up against what he labeled an assault on their democratic rights.

His remarks echoed the sentiments of other Congress leaders present at the rally, who accused the Election Commission of collusion and pledged to persist in the campaign against vote chori nationwide.