Cong’s ‘Vote Satyagraha’ to protest SIR today from Rewa
Bhopal: Following the detention of LS LOP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and leaders of the INDIA bloc, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav during a protest march from Parliament to the office of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the state Congress here on Monday has declared launching a Vote Satyagraha from Rewa. The state Congress’ first Satyagraha protest against SIR (Special Intensive Revision) of electoral rolls will start on Tuesday. All Congress MLAs and LOP Umang Singhar will be present during the Vote Satyagraha protest. Briefing reporters on the Vote Satyagraha, state Congress president Jitu Patwari said that the biggest strength of the Constitution is the right of the people to vote. “This right is the foundation of democracy and with this the people choose their representatives and the govt. When this sacred right is tampered with, it is not just a political issue, but a direct attack on the Constitution of the country and its democratic structure,” Patwari said. “Today, instead of raising the voice of the people, the govt strangled democracy and arrested all the MPs,” Patwari alleged. “Today, the information that BJP wins elections by stealing votes has reached every household and the people will not sit silent now.” Patwari said. Meawhile, Congress workers burnt effigies of the EC across the state on Monday, including in Bhopal, to protest SIR of electoral rolls. The party alleged SIR will be the murder of democracy. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Rahul Gandhi will not take oath on vote theft, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Deputy chief minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar Monday said Congress MP and Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi will not take an oath on vote theft claims as sought by chief electoral officers (CEOs) of three states. He also said state CEOs had no authority to issue such a notice to Rahul. “We are not schoolboys to reply to whatever Election Commission (EC) demands,” he said. “It is their (EC) responsibility to get details which my leader (Rahul) exposed. He made a presentation on how it happened. It’s now the EC’s job to pursue it and initiate action.” He also said Congress has sought more information and records from the EC. “Let them first provide those records. We officially asked for them. I personally went to the EC, so let them give us those records. At no point will Rahul Gandhi take an oath. He has answered the EC in public,” he said. He insisted that Congress had informed the EC about irregularities in elections, and it was the EC’s duty to resolve those issues. “The EC is free to file a case against us if we have said anything wrong. We have only pointed out irregularities in the election process,” he said. On the notice issued to him, Shivakumar said: “I asked the EC for more information. They sent it to me on WhatsApp, but I have not gone through it yet. We will provide whatever information they want.” JD(S) seeks legal action Meanwhile, Janata Dal (Secular) functionaries petitioned Karnataka’s CEO to take legal action against Rahul for his ‘vote theft’ allegations. In a written appeal, they urged the CEO to act under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, dealing with false declarations, and Section 227 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, pertaining to providing false evidence. They called Rahul’s allegations “false” and accused him of misleading the public by speaking against an autonomous constitutional body. “It is unfortunate that they (Congress party) are making allegations against the election commission. This is out of frustration that they shall lose the upcoming polls in Bihar and other states,” the letter stated. The JD(S) delegation submitted the appeal at the election commission office, as the CEO was unavailable. MLC Javarayi Gowda, Bengaluru city working president KV Narayanaswamy, and general secretary S Ramesh were present. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Vote chori row: High command orders, CM executes; how 6-hour drama ended in Karnataka minister KN Rajanna’s ouster; Congress may now expel him
BENGALURU: In a high-voltage political operation on Monday, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah sacked state cooperation minister KN Rajanna from the cabinet following a directive from the Congress high command — a move that unfolded over just six hours after he publicly ridiculed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of voter list manipulation. The day began at 10.30am, when AICC general secretary KC Venugopal called up CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar over Rajanna’s comments that questioned the party’s narrative on “vote theft.” By noon, Siddaramaiah had sought an explanation from Rajanna and reported the interaction to Venugopal.At 1pm, Venugopal pressed the CM and DCM to take decisive action. Thirty minutes later, Siddaramaiah met Rajanna in the presence of minister Parameshwara, persuading him to quit. At 2pm, Rajanna, a staunch supporter of Siddaramaiah, signaled his willingness to step down, and the CM informed the high command. But by 2.30pm, the party leadership instructed Siddaramaiah to “remove” Rajanna instead of accepting a resignation. At 3pm, the CM sent a formal recommendation to the Karnataka governor, who by 4.30pm notified Rajanna’s removal. Rajanna’s ouster — and the manner in which it was executed — has triggered speculation that the next step could be his expulsion from the Congress, in what is being seen as a warning to dissenters. The episode began with Rajanna’s remarks questioning why the Congress had not acted when voter list revisions happened under its watch, despite Rahul Gandhi alleging that the BJP and the Election Commission colluded to insert bogus votes in Mahadevapura. The row spilled into the assembly, with the BJP accusing Congress of making Rajanna, a Scheduled Tribe leader, a scapegoat. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
CEOs of Maharashtra, Haryana issue fresh letter to Rahul Gandhi, give him 10 days to prove ‘voter fraud’ claims
NEW DELHI: The chief electoral officers of Maharashtra and Haryana on Sunday sent fresh letters to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, giving him 10 days to furnish a signed declaration with particulars of electors he alleged were fraudulently added, so that necessary proceedings may be initiated. Karnataka CEO too sent a notice to Rahul on Sunday, citing Mahadevapura voter Shakun Rani’s denial of his claim at a recent press conference that she had voted twice from Mahadevapura AC in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress leader was requested him to provide the documents based on which he had reached the conclusion, so that a detailed inquiry could be held. “On inquiry, Smt Shakun Rani (the voter in question) had stated that she has voted only once and not twice, as alleged by you. Preliminary inquiry conducted by this office also reveals that the tick-marked document shown by you in the presentation is not a document issued by the polling officer,” the CEO said in a letter sent to the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. The Election Commission, in wake of the Karnataka CEO’s latest letter to Rahul, once again asked him to submit a timely response. “He should either file the declaration/oath under Rules 20(3)b of the Registration of Electors Act 1960 or apologise to the nation for making baseless allegation against EC,” said an EC functionary. Sources said if Rahul does not furnish a declaration, his claims cannot be investigated since the law requires evidence by any person (who is not a voter in that particular constituency himself) to be tendered on oath. If Rahul were to furnish an oath and the evidence and it is found to be fabricated or false, Section 227 and 229 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (giving false evidence) shall kick in; the section provides for jail term up to three years and, if this false evidence is repeated in court, it invites jail up to seven years. Also, making false allegations in connection with preparation, revision or correction of electoral roll or inclusion/exclusion of any entry in electoral roll, is punishable with imprisonment up to one year under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Meanwhile, EC sources on Sunday told TOI that the alleged polling records shown by Rahul as “EC data” with ‘tick marks’ against Shakun Rani’s name, appear fabricated, as such records form part of Form 17A maintained and retained by the polling officer. Access to Form 17A is limited to authorised EC officials and these are not shared with the political parties. The parties’ polling agents do get polling records but in Form 17C, which do not contain the voters’ photographs. Form 17A is only produced before the court when sought in any judicial proceeding. Flashing a “forged document” at a press conference could spell legal consequences for Rahul as he may face an FIR for violation of Section 337 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which provides for jail term up to seven years for forging a govt-issued ID like voter identity card or a register maintained by a public servant. Also being in possession of such forged documents is a criminal offence under Section 339 of BNS, also punishable with imprisonment that can extend to seven years. EC sources said the Karnataka CEO is yet to receive any documents cited by Rahul at last week’s press conference to allege ‘massive voter fraud’ in the state’s Mahadevapura AC. Rahul Gandhi had, in his presentation at the press conference, displayed Shakun Rani’s voter details in the electoral roll “obtained through RTI from EC ERO login” and the “BLA-marked electoral roll”, and claimed in his remarks that the polling officer had ticked against her ID card twice, recording her duplicate votes. Interestingly, the role of a political party’s booth level agent (BLA) is limited to activities concerning the electoral roll; it’s the polling agents who represent the party and their candidates in the polling station are their polling agents. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Vote ‘chori’ row: EC repeats ‘sign declaration or apologise’ dare; adds ‘Rahul still has time’
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission, following notices from the chief electoral officers (CEOs) of Karnataka and Haryana, has reiterated that Rahul Gandhi “still has time” he should either submit a formal declaration supporting his “vote theft” allegations or “apologise to the country.” The Karnataka CEO has asked the Congress MP to submit documents to support his “vote theft” allegations against the Election Commission of India. In a letter dated August 10, the Karnataka CEO noted that Rahul Gandhi, during his August 7 press conference, claimed to have presented documents from ECI records alleging that a voter, Shakun Rani, voted twice based on data shown by a polling officer. The polling body said that in a preliminary inquiry, Shakun Rani denied voting twice, and the tick-marked document displayed by Rahul Gandhi was not issued by the polling officer, raising doubts about its authenticity. The Karnataka CEO has asked Rahul Gandhi to “provide the relevant documents” forming the basis of his allegation so that a detailed investigation can be carried out by the state’s electoral authorities. On August 7, citing internal analysis, the Leader of the Opposition said Congress had expected to win 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka but secured only nine. He said the party investigated seven unexpected losses, focusing on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. “We found 100,250 votes stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50–60 people living. But when we go there, there is no record of those people living there. One family living in that house,” Rahul Gandhi said. The ECI, on Saturday, again asked the Congress MP to either give a declaration in line with the rules or apologise to the country for what it called “false” allegations about voter lists. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
SIR row: High drama at opposition MPs’ march to EC; Akhilesh Yadav jumps barricade; Rahul Gandhi detained – Key points
NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc, including senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sharad Pawar, were stopped by Delhi Police on Monday as they marched from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters. The demonstration was held against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and allegations of “voter fraud” during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Wearing white caps marked with a red cross over the words “SIR” and “vote chori”, the leaders raised slogans and carried placards accusing the Election Commission of collusion with the government. The march began at Parliament’s Makar Dwar with the national anthem but was halted at Transport Bhawan, where police had set up heavy barricading. Here’s the latest developments: Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka detained Delhi Police detained several senior leaders of the INDIA bloc — including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sanjay Raut, and Sagarika Ghose — during the protest march. Speaking during the protest, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai (They are scared. This government is cowardly).” Akhilesh Yadav jumps barricades Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the authorities of using police to suppress dissent. “They are using the police to stop us,” he said, before sitting down in protest. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also physically jumped over a barricade as MPs were blocked from proceeding towards the EC. Several other leaders followed suit, climbing the barriers to chant slogans against the SIR exercise. Senior leaders join in protest Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP’s Sharad Pawar, and other top opposition figures walked alongside MPs from the DMK, TMC, RJD, and Left parties. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led chants as the group accused the EC of “murdering democracy” through voter list manipulation. Banners reading “SIR + Vote Theft = Murder of Democracy” and “SIR – Loktantra Par Vaar” were prominently displayed. Shashi Tharoor calls for credible answers Congress MP Shashi Tharoor backed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, saying, “The Election Commission not only has a responsibility to the nation, but it has a responsibility to itself… Our democracy is too precious to be jeopardised by doubts about whether there is duplicate voting… Those answers must be provided credibly.” Don’t need permission to walk on the streets of Delhi: SP MP SP MP Ramgopal Yadav said MPs “don’t need permission to walk on the streets of Delhi”, questioning the need for such police restrictions. RJD’s Manoj Jha called the SIR “a fraud” and accused the EC of ignoring Supreme Court directions. SP’s Dimple Yadav alleged booth capturing and vote theft in UP by-elections, questioning why no action was taken. BJP defends Election Commission BJP MP Jagdambika Pal criticised the opposition for disrupting Parliament and reiterated the EC’s challenge to Rahul Gandhi to provide proof for his “vote theft” allegations. “If you have any proof, show it,” Pal said. Security clampdown in central Delhi Ahead of the march, security was tightened around Transport Bhawan with multiple barricades placed to prevent movement towards the EC headquarters. Police used loudspeakers to instruct MPs to stop, insisting the group could not proceed further. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
INDIA bloc has no objection to Uddhav-Raj coming together: MP Raut
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday said the alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS is directly or indirectly discussed at the INDIA bloc meetings, and no one in the INDIA bloc has any objection to the two brothers, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, coming together. Raut also said that the Raj-Uddhav alliance was not a subject of the INDIA bloc, and local body polls are not discussed at the national level. “The alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray is not a matter of the INDIA bloc. It is a matter of local bodies, and local body elections are not discussed at the national level. Since some people’s party chiefs are in Delhi, they may have gone to Delhi and discussed it. The two brothers have taken the decision to come together. Politically, this is a big development in Maharashtra. That is why it is being discussed,” Raut said. “This issue is discussed directly and indirectly in the INDIA bloc meetings. Therefore, no one in the INDIA bloc has any objection to the two brothers coming together. The picture there was such that no one has any objection to this. This is the position of (state Congress Chief) Harshvardhan Sapkal on the Marathi issue, that is, the Congress here on the Marathi issue also,” Raut said. On Thursday, Uddhav dismissed speculation about any third-party involvement in a potential alliance with his cousin Raj. During his Delhi visit, when asked if Raj was also going to meet Congress Neta Rahul Gandhi, Uddhav said the two brothers are capable of taking their own decision and do not need any third-party intervention. On being asked if Raj will also attend the INDIA alliance meeting and meet Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, Uddhav said, “Both the brothers are capable enough. We will do whatever we have to do. There is no need for any third person.” Uddhav was on a three-day Delhi trip on August 6, 7, and 8 to attend the meeting of the INDIA bloc. In Delhi, Uddhav called on Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Uddhav met NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar at his residence. Pawar hosted a dinner meeting of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) MPs at his residence. Uddhav’s son, Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya, wife Rashmi, and Raut were also in Delhi with Uddhav. Uddhav attended the dinner meeting hosted by Rahul on Thursday and also attended the INDIA bloc meeting. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘Huge criminal fraud’: Congress launches campaign against ‘vote chori’; urges citizens to register
NEW DELHI: The Congress party rolled out a dedicated portal to rally public support behind Rahul Gandhi’s explosive allegations of large-scale poll rigging, which he has called “vote chori”. The platform allows citizens to register their backing for the Congress leader’s demand for digital voter rolls and to access what the party claims is proof of electoral fraud. The website hosts Gandhi’s video reiterating his charge of a “huge criminal fraud” carried out through alleged collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI). Citing analysis from a Karnataka constituency on Thursday, Gandhi called it “a crime against the Constitution.” Alongside the video, a message on the portal warns that “the vote is the foundation of our democracy, but it’s under systematic attack by the BJP, with the Election Commission complicit”. It claimed, “In just one assembly segment of Bangalore Central, we found over 1 lakh fake voters that helped the BJP win this Lok Sabha seat. Imagine this happening in 70-100 seats – it would destroy free elections.” The Congress asserted it has previously raised concerns in states like Maharashtra, but now has “proof”. “We will fight this vote chori with all our strength. Join us to defend our democracy,” the message adds. Visitors to the portal can register by clicking a link or by calling a phone number to receive a registration link via SMS. Once signed up, they receive a personalised certificate declaring their opposition to “vote chori” and stating, “I support Rahul Gandhi’s demand of digital voter rolls from the EC.” The document carries the signatures of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary K C Venugopal and treasurer Ajay Maken. Several party leaders and supporters have posted their certificates on social media to amplify the campaign. The move comes as the Election Commission doubles down on its pushback. On Saturday, poll officials again called on Gandhi to either sign a formal declaration backing his allegations or issue a public apology for making what they term “fake” charges. This followed a day of heated exchanges between the Congress leader and the EC over claims of voter list manipulation in at least three states. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘Voter fraud’, SIR row: Kharge to host dinner for INDIA bloc MPs; what’s on agenda?
NEW DELHI: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will host a dinner for MPs of the INDIA bloc on Monday, as opposition parties intensify their joint push against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged poll rigging, sources told news agency PTI. The gathering at the Hotel Taj Palace in Chanakyapuri will coincide with a protest march by opposition MPs from Parliament to the Election Commission’s office over what they call “poll fraud.” The dinner comes on the heels of a rare show of unity last week, when top INDIA bloc leaders met at Rahul Gandhi’s residence and pledged to resist the electoral roll revision in Bihar and the “vote chori model” they accuse the BJP and Election Commission of running. That meeting marked the first in-person session of the bloc’s senior leaders since June 2024, shortly after the Lok Sabha elections, when they assembled at Kharge’s residence. Leaders from 25 parties attended, including Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, SP’s Akhilesh Yadav, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva and T R Baalu, CPI(M)’s M A Baby, CPI’s D Raja, CPI(ML)’s Dipankar Bhattacharya and MNM chief Kamal Haasan. During the meeting, Rahul Gandhi gave what the Congress described as a detailed presentation on the “vote chori model” allegedly executed by the BJP via the Election Commission. He laid out “the entire game” of how elections were being “rigged,” according to the party. “A united front against electoral manipulation! We are committed to protecting democracy and will save it from being destroyed at all costs,” the Congress later posted on X. Earlier, at a press conference, Gandhi had reiterated his charge of a “huge criminal fraud” in elections through “collusion” between the BJP and the Election Commission. “The way opposition parties have been united in Parliament in national interest and have cornered the government, the same unity was visible in the meeting as well,” said Gaurav Gogoi, Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha. Opposition parties have strongly opposed the ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar, warning it could result in the disenfranchisement of many voters. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil amid Trump tariff threat: Report
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, is the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude, a vital revenue earner for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine for a fourth year. Indian state refiners have stopped buying Russian oil in the past week as discounts narrowed this month and US President Donald Trump warned countries not to purchase oil from Moscow, industry sources said. India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, is the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude, a vital revenue earner for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine for a fourth year. The country’s state refiners – Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd – have not sought Russian crude in the past week or so, four sources familiar with the refiners’ purchase plans told Reuters. IOC, BPCL, HPCL, MRPL and the federal oil ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. The four refiners regularly buy Russian oil on a delivered basis and have turned to spot markets for replacement supply – mostly Middle Eastern grades such as Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude and West African oil, sources said. Private refiners Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy, majority owned by Russian entities including oil major Rosneft, have annual deals with Moscow and are the biggest Russian oil buyers in India. On July 14, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine. Indian refiners are pulling back from Russian crude as discounts shrink to their lowest since 2022, when Western sanctions were first imposed on Moscow, due to lower Russian exports and steady demand, sources said. Refiners fear the latest EU curbs could complicate overseas trade including fund raising — even for buyers adhering to the price cap. India has reiterated its opposition to “unilateral sanctions”. Trump on Wednesday announced a 25% tariff on goods imported from India from August 1, but added that negotiations were ongoing. He also warned of potential penalties for purchase of Russian arms and oil. On Monday Trump cut the deadline to impose secondary sanction on buyers of Russian exports to 10-12 days from the previous 50-day period, if Moscow does not agree a peace deal with Ukraine. Russia is the top supplier to India, responsible for about 35% of India’s overall supplies. Private refiners bought nearly 60% of India’s average 1.8 million barrels per day of Russian oil imports in the first half of 2025, while state refiners that control over 60% of India’s overall 5.2 million bpd refining capacity, bought the remainder. Reliance purchased Abu Dhabi Murban crude for loading in October this month, an unusual move by the refiner, traders said. Courtesy : MINT Note: This news is originally published on https:/mint.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.