New Delhi, 06 October (H.S.): The Delhi Police on Tuesday stopped a march by opposition leaders and Members of Parliament from Parliament House to the Election Commission headquarters over allegations of “vote theft”. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the Central government of wrongdoing and said that what had been done to the country amounted to treason. He said that everyone would be investigated.

More than 300 opposition MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including members of the Biju Janata Dal, participated in the march. After being stopped by the police, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other opposition leaders staged a sit-in at the All India Radio (Akashvani) Bhavan complex adjacent to the Election Commission headquarters.

Speaking to reporters there, Rahul Gandhi said that the opposition MPs were on their way to meet the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, but the Delhi Police prevented them from proceeding further. He questioned why nearly 300 MPs, who represent the voice of the country, were stopped from meeting the Election Commissioners.

“When MPs are just 50 yards away from the Election Commission office and are still not being allowed to meet the Election Commissioners, what is the meaning of democracy?” he asked.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the country’s democracy had been undermined through “vote theft” and said that the entire country was aware of it. He claimed that even police personnel deployed on duty had told him that they were aware of what was happening in the country.

He alleged that the Central government had sought to influence the country’s democratic system with the help of Gyanesh Kumar. “Whether it is Modi, Shah, Gyanesh Kumar or anyone else, no one will be spared. Every individual will be investigated and action will be taken against those responsible for the alleged ‘vote theft’,” he said.

Describing the alleged actions as a serious crime against the country, Rahul Gandhi said that no one would be able to escape accountability.

Earlier, during the march, Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also levelled allegations against the Election Commission and the Central government. He said that those who had “taught” Gyanesh Kumar about “vote theft” were the biggest thieves, and asserted that the Opposition would continue its fight against them.

Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government was bent on destroying the Constitution and said that people across the country were now beginning to feel that their votes were being taken away and their freedom was being curtailed.

In a post on the social media platform X, Mallikarjun Kharge also raised questions over the functioning of the Election Commission, saying that the Opposition had serious concerns about the manner in which the poll panel was functioning. He said the Opposition would not allow democracy to be “sold” and would hold the Bharatiya Janata Party accountable.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar