By Dr. Gyan Pathak
INDIA bloc MP’s protest march against “vote theft” by the ruling establishment in India led by PM Narendra Modi with connivance of the Election Commission of India (ECI) through voter list manipulation has just escalated the issues to acquire a national dimension. Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s demonstration of the voter list manipulation was so stark that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, which ECI intends to conduct across the country, is also seen as an effort to steal votes, with only difference that earlier instances of vote theft was done through “mass addition of voters” while this time the effort is to win election through “mass deletion of voters”.
Obviously, the opposition MP’s representing people across all states in India joined hands under the INDIA bloc banner to protest. However, their protest on Monday August 11, 2025 was stopped by the ruling establishment through the police of the Nation Capital only after few metres from the Parliament of India, from where it began. MPs were seen jumping over the barricades, and when completely stopped, they sat on a sit-in protest at the spot. The protesting MPs were detained by the police. Later, police said, “Only 30 MPs had permission to go to ECI, but there were more than that present on site. We informed them that we can accompany any 30 of them, however, due to the large crowed present, we had to detain the MPs.” After about two hours of detention in the Parliament Street police station, police released all MPs.
It was earlier on Monday, the ECI, which is an accused in the “vote theft” and “electoral roll manipulation” in connivance with the BJP’s mascot PM Narendra Modi and associates, had reiterated its threatening language against the Leader of the Opposition who had publicly exposed the “vote theft” through voter list manipulation. They have said that LoP has ‘still time to give declaration on oath.’
Though ECI is a constitutional body, it should be noted that it is an accused in the “vote theft” allegation and hence it would not serve the purpose of justice if an accused publicly goes on threatening the complainant in a crime against nation. Even as ECI is an accused in both past and present electoral list manipulation efforts conniving with the PM Narendra Modi and associates, ECI seems to be very keen of becoming a judge. Here again, the purpose of justice can’t be served if an accused becomes an investigator and judge both. Therefore, the threat served by the ECI to the LoP of the country is unacceptable. Nevertheless, the Chief Electoral Officers of several states have issued threatening notices to the LoP.
It is unacceptable, on account of another reason too. ECI has recently reported indulged in politics, which is not their mandate according the Constitution of India, especially when they said that the Congress led Karnataka government had used their “voter list” for their Caste Census, which at one hand validated the list, while on the other Rahul Gandhi has alleged it to be manipulated. The very mention of Caste Census of Karnataka smacks politics, and ECI has nothing to do with Caste Census, since there have been much politics played around caste census by the BJP led by PM Narendra Modi with whom the ECI has been alleged to have connived. ECI’s threatening languages are laden with political slant, apart from their asking Rahul Gandhi to apologise or submit complained on oath so that they could take actions.
Since BJP and PM Narendra Modi has also been alleged to have got the electoral roll manipulated through the ECI, and benefited from them, it is quite natural that the BJP leaders have been criticising Rahul Gandhi. BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is Rahul Gandhi.”
Pradhan said, “Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections, Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies…It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy…I appeal to the Opposition and the Congress party to raise all issues in Parliament.” Nevertheless, the country has seen how the government, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha, did not allow discussion in the Parliament on SIR issue.
Monday’s INDIA bloc’s protest saw almost all import opposition leaders of the country, which included Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party Supremo Akhilesh Yadav, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and almost all who’s who in opposition’s parliamentary politics.
LoP Rahul Gandhi said, “Actually, we cannot talk to the ECI, this is the reality. … The truth is before the nation and this fight is not political, it is to save the Constitution. It is fight for ‘one man one vote’. We want a clean and accurate voter list.” Congress MP and party’s general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that we are not even allowed to reach ECI. Right in front of the Parliament House, democracy is being murdered.
It has been learnt that ECI had granted an appointment for an interaction at 12 noon today August 11, on the request of the Congress Party. Nevertheless, opposition MPs were not allowed to proceed to Nirvachan Sadan with their protest march. Delhi police said that there was no permission sought of grated for opposition MP’s protest march against electoral malpractices.
In the meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc parties are planning to escalate the protest against “vote theft” and SIR across the country. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has called for a meeting to formulate a common strategy on the issue of the alleged poll fraud. Detention of opposition MPs have attracted criticism from the opposition leaders across the country, which indicates the issue has already acquired a national dimension. (IPA Service)
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