SIR row: Nadda backs EC, sends message to Rahul Gandhi and opposition
NEW DELHI: Union minister JP Nadda on Monday attacked the opposition and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the SIR row surrounding the Election Commission, saying, “repeating a lie a hundred times does not make it the truth”. Nadda also targeted Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing them of attempting to “malign and weaken” the country’s autonomous and constitutional institutions. He described their approach as a “toolkit mentality”. Speaking to reporters, Nadda took a direct aim at the Congress leader saying, “Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully: repeating a lie a hundred times does not make it the truth; the truth cannot be defeated.” “For Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, and Mamata Banerjee, the sole agenda has become to malign and weaken the nation’s autonomous and constitutional institutions. This is the same ‘toolkit mentality’ that hatches a new conspiracy every morning to stall the country’s development: level allegations, disrupt the national atmosphere, and flee. This has become the opposition’s modus operandi,” he said. “They care nothing for national security, public welfare, or the country’s honor and prestige. Their only objective is to seize power, not to serve the people, but to nurture dynastic politics and reap personal benefits… The public has taught a befitting lesson to the forces seeking to create instability in the country in the past, and in the future too; every delusion and conspiracy of theirs will be shattered in the court of the people,” he added. Nadda further accused the opposition of continuing to raise allegations despite the Election Commission’s responses, saying it was attempting to create confusion and disrupt the atmosphere in the country. “Today, as the nation realizes the resolve of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) through the tireless efforts of its 1.4 billion citizens, and as India’s influence resonates across the global stage, the Congress and the entire ‘INDI Alliance’ are, unfortunately, frustrated and despondent at this progress…” Nadda said. “Lacking policies and a vision, they are now devising new ploys to spread confusion and anarchy across the country. We all witnessed the uproar created nationwide just a few days ago over a fabricated story. Now, even after the Election Commission has exposed every lie they propagated, they are once again attempting to vitiate the atmosphere,” Nadda added. He further alleged that Rahul and Kejriwal “make allegations and walk away; they have nothing to do with public interest.” The Union minister accused the opposition of attempting to create confusion and disturb the atmosphere in the country despite lacking “intent and vision”. “We saw a few days ago how an attempt was made to disturb the atmosphere across the country on the basis of a fabricated news report. Now, even after all members of the Election Commission have responded to their allegations, they are once again engaged in efforts to vitiate the atmosphere in the country,” Nadda said. Nadda also contrasted the BJP’s approach to power with that of the opposition, saying, “For BJP, power is a means to serve the interests of 140 crore people.” He said the BJP’s objective was to serve citizens and fulfil its commitment to Antyodaya, while accusing the Opposition of seeking power for dynastic politics and its own interests. Kharge demands CEC’s resignation Nadda’s remarks came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and alleged that he was propagating the BJP’s philosophy. “They will say like this only, but their own people have exposed them, and their own people are telling. Even a Chief Secretary of Kerala says, our CEC himself told him to contest the election. It means that a person who is in the highest position is propagating the BJP’s philosophy, and he has become a BJP worker. So it is clear. There is nothing. He should resign. If he has got any little moral right, he should resign from that post. And afterwards, we have to take action against him, even after resignation,” Kharge said. “I have called a working committee meeting for tomorrow, and there we’ll discuss; all the working committee members will give their suggestions. And we are going to fight seriously. This issue concerns the entire country, the existence of our democracy, and the country’s survival. That’s why we are very serious about this issue. We’ll fight, and we’ll see that,” he added. Rahul Gandhi’s allegations over SIR The political row comes amid opposition criticism of the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Rahul Gandhi had earlier alleged that the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections were “all rigged” and demanded the immediate resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. He also accused the CEC of “match-fixing elections”, citing a news channel report claiming that Kumar had approached former Kerala chief secretary Jiji Thomson to contest the 2026 Assembly elections on a BJP ticket. The Election Commission, meanwhile, clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary that had drawn scrutiny related to the functioning of an officer on deputation to the poll body and not to any policy matter. The row also follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months on decisions and orders related to SIR and other electoral matters. The reported objections included issues concerning Form 6, voter deletions and access to electoral-roll databases. The poll body rejected the suggestion that these objections amounted to institutional dissent over final decisions, saying operational queries, inputs and suggestions raised during the draft stage were part of its standard administrative and decision-making process. The Election Commission maintained that all decisions taken by it, including those related to SIR, were unanimous and had the approval of all three commissioners, PTI reported. Opposition parties, including the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), have demanded Kumar’s resignation. Meanwhile, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said an INDIA bloc meeting
‘Will contest at least 150 seats in UP’: Congress discusses alliance talks with SP
NEW DELHI: The Congress will contest at least 150 seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections early next year, a party leader said on Monday, asserting that the party is “entitled” to contest half the seats in an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP). Seat-sharing talks with the SP are likely to be finalised in October, according to Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge. “Seat-sharing will likely be finalised in October. Congress has candidates available to contest all 403 seats. Under the alliance, the Congress is entitled to 50% of the seats. We will not contest fewer than 150 seats,” Gautam told ANI. “For the last two months, Congress has been working on seat-sharing in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal and I are looking after this work,” he added. The Congress and the SP are key constituents of the Opposition INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh. The two parties contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state as alliance partners, winning 43 of the 80 seats. The SP won 37 seats — its best performance in a Lok Sabha election — while the Congress secured six. The BJP, which rules both the Centre and the state, finished second with 33 seats, down from 62 in 2019. The previous SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh, for the 2017 assembly elections, was less successful. The SP won 47 seats and was voted out of power, while the Congress secured only seven seats. Courtesy : TO Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Agonizing death of Dalit youth in UP police station: Murder case registered against cops; family alleges he was hanged after torture.
Uproar follows the suspicious death of a Dalit youth at the Patti police station in Pratapgarh; a murder case has been registered against police personnel, and the SHO has been suspended. The family alleges that he was tortured and then hanged. Uttar Pradesh: A shocking case has emerged from Pratapgarh district. On Monday, the body of a Dalit youth was found hanging in a room at the Patti police station. Following the incident, the deceased’s family has leveled serious allegations of murder against the police and the family of a minor girl. Based on the family’s complaint, a case has been registered against the accused police personnel and the girl’s family members under charges of murder and the SC/ST Act. Notably, a case regarding the alleged abduction of the minor girl—filed by her father—was pending against the deceased youth. Pratapgarh Superintendent of Police (SP) Deepak Bukar has taken immediate action in the matter. He has suspended Patti SHO Anand Pal Singh and Investigating Officer Omkar Singh for gross negligence in the discharge of their duties. According to Patti Circle Officer (CO) Pradeep Singh, the girl’s father had alleged that the youth abducted his 17-year-old daughter with the intention of marriage. Both belonged to the same village. The police had previously recovered the girl from Ghaziabad, after which her statement was recorded before a magistrate. In her statement, the girl clearly stated that she had gone with the youth of her own free will and wished to live with him. However, the CO clarified that since she is a minor, the law does not yet permit her to make such a decision. According to the police, the youth had not been arrested; instead, he had come to the police station on his own accord on Monday. He was not kept in the lock-up but was seated in a room where the investigating officer was questioning him regarding the abduction case. The officer had stepped out of the room for some work. Upon returning, he found the young man hanging from an iron rod in the bathroom ventilator. Police stated that the young man had fashioned a noose by tearing a blanket kept in the room. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The Circle Officer (CO) noted that this was the second time the young man and the girl had allegedly run away together. On the previous occasion, too, the girl had stated she left of her own volition, but she was handed over to her parents as she was a minor. This time, after the girl was recovered, the young man had voluntarily arrived at the police station. He claimed that they were married and had been living together as husband and wife. Conversely, the deceased’s family has directly alleged that the police severely tortured the young man inside the station at the behest of the girl’s father. They claim that the police staged the scene to make it look like a suicide—hanging the body from the noose—to cover up a murder. The CO has assured that the investigation will reveal the truth behind all the allegations. A case has been registered under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the BNS, as well as provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Pratapgarh police have secured CCTV footage from the station and other crucial evidence. Additionally, the District Magistrate has recommended a magisterial inquiry into this suspicious death. The incident has now gained significant attention. Chandrashekhar Azad, MP from Nagina and President of the Azad Samaj Party, has demanded strict action against the accused in a post on the social media platform X. He has emphasized the need for a high-level, impartial investigation into the entire matter. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Delhi Cabinet clears ‘DURGA’ scheme
New Delhi: Delhi Cabinet Wednesday approved the Driving Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green e-Auto (‘DURGA’) scheme to provide women and transgender persons an opportunity to own and drive electric autos and earn a livelihood through self-employment. In the first phase, 1,300 pink electric autos — 1,170 for women and 130 for transgender persons — will be deployed. A maximum of 90 e-autos for women and up to 10 e-autos for transgender individuals will be allocated in each district. Applications will be invited through a dedicated portal and benefits will be available to applicants who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. “The scheme is aimed at providing women and transgender persons with safe, clean and dignified employment opportunities,” said CM Rekha Gupta, who chaired the Cabinet meeting. “It also seeks to promote women’s safety, greater participation of transgender persons in the transport sector, last-mile connectivity and clean and sustainable urban transport.” The scheme, she said, has been designed keeping in mind commuting and safety challenges faced by women and transgender passengers, particularly during early morning and late evening hours. Govt said the scheme would also help create jobs in allied sectors. Under the scheme, women applicants must be aged 20 to 40 years, be residents of Delhi and have a valid voter identity card, LMV driving licence and PSV badge. A woman with more than three children will not be eligible. The applicant or her family must not own any registered transport vehicle or three-wheeler, and the family’s income in FY 2025-26 must not exceed Rs 5 lakh. Transgender applicants will have to submit a valid transgender certificate issued by the district magistrate’s office and meet the age, Delhi residency, voter identity card, LMV licence and PSV badge requirements. The e-autos will have a mandatory three-year lock-in period, during which they cannot be sold, transferred or disposed of in any other manner. The e-autos will carry ‘DURGA’ branding and special identification features. According to govt, this will make the vehicles easily identifiable and help strengthen passengers’ trust and confidence in them. The scheme also proposes a special arrangement to integrate the e-autos with the public transport network. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said that space for EV charging facilities has already been made available in the parking areas of 70 Metro stations. 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
Dalit family secures land rights after 34 years: Name entered in land records following CM’s directive; family expresses gratitude
A Dalit family in Gona village, Khekra Tehsil, has finally secured ownership rights to their land after a long legal battle spanning 34 years. The family is overjoyed now that their name has been officially entered into the *Khatauni* (land record). They have expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister and the state government for taking action in this matter. Richhpal, a resident of Gona village, owned approximately 12 *bighas* of land. He had sold six *bighas* of this land to a fellow villager. It is alleged that the buyer encroached upon the entire 12 *bighas* instead of just the six *bighas* purchased. Consequently, Richhpal began a struggle to reclaim his land and free it from encroachment. For nearly 34 years, Richhpal made repeated rounds to government offices seeking redress. He lodged numerous complaints and even staged sit-ins, yet the issue remained unresolved. Amidst this prolonged struggle, Richhpal’s health deteriorated. Subsequently, his son, Dharmpal, took up the responsibility of freeing the land from encroachment and securing the family’s rights. Dharmpal continued the struggle for about 14 years. He, too, lodged complaints with officials and staged protests. After several attempts, he brought the matter to the Chief Minister’s attention. Following this, directives for action were issued at the Chief Minister’s level, and orders were given to record the family’s name in the land records. However, even after the order was issued, Dharmpal had to make repeated visits to the Tehsil office for nearly five years to get the name entered in the *Khatauni*. He lodged multiple complaints regarding this delay. Finally, after five years, their name was entered into the records, and the family secured ownership rights to the land. The family expressed happiness upon securing their land rights after the 34-year-long battle. Dharmpal thanked the Chief Minister and appreciated the action taken by the state government. Dushyant Tyagi | Khekra, Baghpat Courtesy: Hindi News
No Sanitation Worker Visits Belasda; Infectious Diseases Spread in Dalit Colony; No Cleaning for 2 Years
Filth is rampant in Belasda village (Bhadaiya) due to a lack of sanitation. Clogged drains have led to the spread of infectious diseases in the Dalit colony. The sanitation worker assigned to the area has not visited the village for two years. The lack of cleanliness has heightened the risk of infectious diseases, affecting many residents. Heaps of garbage have accumulated along roadsides and within neighborhoods due to the absence of regular cleaning, and the stench from this waste is exacerbating health issues. Belasda village is located just 500 meters from the Bhadaiya headquarters. It is the home village of the first Bhadaiya Block Pramukh, Dada Rajkishore Dubey, and former MLA Shiv Narayan Mishra. Despite this, the village is plagued by numerous problems, and sanitation conditions are dire. Bushes and piles of garbage litter the main road outside the village. Although a designated waste disposal site exists, trash is scattered everywhere. In the Dalit colony, a 100-meter stretch of drain—running from Indrasen Singh’s house to Anil Pandey’s house—has not been cleaned for two years. This drain is completely blocked, preventing wastewater drainage from the homes of Nanhe, Ramtirath, Harivansh, Mukaul, Sundari, and Jagdeep. Consequently, a dozen people have fallen ill with infectious diseases. Shubh Pandey | Bhadaiya (Sultanpur) Courtesy: Hindi News
Prof. Ratan Lal issued a show-cause notice by Hindu College for protesting admission irregularities; Dr. Anil Jaihind remarks—”Manuvadis cannot tolerate a Dalit with a backbone!”
The notice describes Prof. Ratan Lal’s conduct as detrimental to the college’s internal discipline and inappropriate for a teacher. It further states that he issued statements to external agencies, including the media, and persisted in repeating allegations despite the university’s clarification that admissions were based on university-issued lists and any errors stemmed from algorithmic glitches at the university level. He gave statements to the media and raised the issue with senior university and college officials. The Governing Body asserts that this has damaged the college’s institutional image and reputation. It claims a violation of Delhi University’s service rules and the code of professional ethics, which expect teachers to cooperate, behave respectfully, and refrain from making baseless allegations. His conduct has been termed detrimental to the college’s internal discipline and inappropriate for a teacher. The notice directs Dr. Ratan Lal to submit a written reply within seven working days explaining why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for gross misconduct, indiscipline, and insubordination. Failure to respond on time will be construed as an admission of the charges, and action will be taken in accordance with the rules. The notice bears the signature of T.C.A. Rangachari. On Wednesday, Prof. Ratan Lal posted the notice on his social media handle, writing: “Today, someone from the Hindu College staff delivered this to my personal staff at home. Read carefully—the letter is dated September 8, yet it was delivered today. Another example of the privatization of Hindu College. Now, this college doesn’t need a Principal; the Chairman will run it. Under Delhi University statutes, can a Chairman issue a show-cause notice? And that too to the Staff Association President, addressing them by their personal name?” Reacting to this notice, Dr. Anil Jaihind, head of the Congress OBC Cell, wrote, “Those with a ‘Manuvadi’ mindset cannot tolerate a Dalit with a spine. There is no place for such ‘Manuvadis’ in independent India. Action must be taken.” The matter pertains to a no-confidence motion moved by the college staff association against Principal Anju Srivastava, raising the issue of alleged irregularities in admissions under the sports and ECA quotas. According to the facts stated in the notice, this action is based on those very statements. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Why are student protests at IIT Bombay continuing after Sahil Wakode’s death? APPSC reveals the full story!
Students allege that Professor Doola deviates from established invigilation procedures and has further tightened the examination code in recent semesters. According to the students, Doola is known for a style of “making an example of some to punish others,” and they demand his removal from all teaching and administrative positions. Mumbai – Protests have been ongoing at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) campus for the past six days. This outrage was sparked by the death by suicide of student Sahil Wakode on the night of Friday, September 18. The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC-IIT Bombay), a group representing Bahujan students, has issued a detailed statement explaining the reasons behind the ongoing protests. Sahil Wakode, a 22-year-old second-year B.Tech student, hailed from Yavatmal, Maharashtra. On the afternoon of September 18, he was accused of misusing a mobile phone during an examination. Professor Suryanarayana Doola, the exam invigilator and Dean of Student Affairs, escorted Sahil out of the examination hall. According to the APPSC statement, Sahil was questioned privately in the presence of two other professors and threatened with a one-year academic suspension—despite institute rules mandating that a student be allowed to complete the exam even in cases of alleged misconduct. That same evening, Sahil was found dead in his hostel room. News of the incident triggered massive outrage within the student community, and a large number of students gathered at the main gate that very night. Students linked not only Sahil’s death but also three other deaths that occurred last year during Director Shirish Kedare’s tenure—those of Sohail, Naman, and Rohit—to a lack of administrative accountability. Students’ Key Demands: Resignation and Accountability According to the APPSC, the students’ primary and unwavering demand is for Director Shirish Kedare to resign. Students state that during Kedare’s two-year tenure, campus security was tightened, social and communal spaces were closed, and punitive measures—such as fines, academic suspensions, and hostel evictions—were arbitrarily imposed. The second major demand concerns Professor Doola. Students allege that Doola operates outside established invigilation procedures and is credited with making examination codes stricter in recent semesters. Students claim Doola is known for a style of “punishing a few to set an example for the rest” and argue that he should be removed from all teaching and administrative positions. According to the APPSC, Professor Doola took a student named Sahil out of the examination hall, interrogated him privately in the presence of two other professors, and threatened him with a one-year academic suspension; this occurred despite institute rules mandating that a student be allowed to complete the exam even in cases of alleged misconduct. The Night of September 20: Compromise or Betrayal? On the evening of September 20, while the Director himself was present among the gathered students, the Student Council—described by the APPSC as a “nominated body” that undermines student demands—allegedly colluded with members of a right-wing leaning group called “IIT-B for Bharat” to intimidate students, seize the microphone, and silence voices raising the original grievances. The APPSC alleges that the charter of demands signed by the Director did not align with the students’ actual demands. According to available reports, Kedare stated that night, “I will resign, but due process must be followed, and I will announce my decision after Monday’s meeting,” before signing the 18-point charter of demands. However, the institute later denied reports of Kedare’s resignation. While Professor Doola was suspended from his position as Dean, he was not removed from his teaching role. At the open house held on the evening of September 21, a large number of Faculty Forum members arrived with banners and posters to rally in support of Doola—a move the student organization termed a “mockery of claims about bridging the gap between the administration and students.” According to reports, the Faculty Forum maintained that Doola had acted in accordance with institutional procedure when he caught Wakode engaging in the “unauthorized use” of a mobile phone during an examination. The institute’s 750-member Faculty Forum has also spoken of planning a campus march in support of Doola. The brazen manner in which the Faculty Forum demonstrated solidarity with Doola on the evening of the 21st—welcoming him to the open house amidst a crowd carrying banners and posters—makes a mockery of the measures the IIT had promised to take to improve relations between students and the administration. – Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC) Concerns of Dalit Students and the Caste Dimension Dalit students on campus feel increasingly insecure following these events, and there have been reports of a rise in casteist remarks and abuse. It is worth noting that this is not the first time allegations of caste-based discrimination have surfaced following a student’s death at IIT-B; after the death of Dalit student Darshan Solanki in 2023, the APPSC had termed it an “institutional murder.” Regarding the Sahil Wakode case, media reports citing the police investigation indicate that no mention of caste was found in his final conversation with a female friend; however, this does not entirely refute the students’ claims regarding the prevailing atmosphere on campus. The APPSC has directly alleged that the Student Council worked to dismantle the initial spontaneous solidarity under the guise of “proceduralism” and collaborated with the administration to suppress student voices during the open house on September 21. The statement further asserts that students who consistently demand accountability are being subjected to a “witch-hunt,” proving that the administration has no intention of ensuring accountability or implementing reforms. The APPSC demands the immediate resignation of this “casteist, authoritarian, and dictatorial administration.” Students are demanding the resignation of Director Kedare, the removal of Professor Doola from all positions, and an independent inquiry into the deaths that have occurred over the past few years, including that of Sahil. Students are dismissing the emails sent by the institute regarding mental health counselors as “hollow solace,” arguing that the real issue—a punitive administrative culture—remains unchanged. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Rahul Gandhi speaks to IIT-B student Sahil Wakode’s parents, assures all help
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the parents of deceased IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode and assured them of all possible help in their fight to seek justice for their son, party sources said told PTI on Thrusday. Rahul Gandhi made a video call to Ravindra and Sonali Wakode while they were travelling to Mumbai from Washim district, the sources told PTI. During the nearly 17 minute call, Gandhi told the couple that he was with them and assured them of all help. Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib and Maharashtra unit chief Shivraj More were also present with Sahil’s parents during the call. The conversation comes amid growing protests and demands for an independent probe into Sahil’s death. His parents have alleged that their son faced caste based discrimination and mental harassment at IIT Bombay and have sought action against those they hold responsible. Sahil, a second year BTech student at IIT Bombay, was found hanging in his hostel room on the evening of September 18. His death occurred hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone to access ChatGPT during a mid semester examination. The examination incident became a key focus of the case after Sahil was allegedly stopped by a professor and taken out of the examination hall. CCTV footage from the hall, aired by some television channels on Wednesday, reportedly shows Sahil’s movements before the professor approaches him and leads him away. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is investigating the death. An FIR has been registered alleging abetment to suicide on grounds of caste discrimination. Faculty member Suryanarayan Doolla, who has been named in the FIR, has been sent on leave to facilitate an impartial investigation. IIT Bombay has maintained that its SC/ST cell had not received a complaint from Sahil before his death. The institute has also constituted a 10 member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Sahil’s parents have announced that they will begin an indefinite hunger strike outside the IIT Bombay gate from 11 am on Thursday. Their demands include a thorough investigation into the circumstances preceding their son’s death and action based on the findings of the probe. 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
Cong-led oppn demands Gyanesh ouster, Supreme Court probe
NEW DELHI: Congress Wednesday led the opposition in demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar be sacked and an SC-monitored probe be ordered into the “rot”, amid reports that two ECs repeatedly opposed various steps taken about SIR. The opposition announced it will move “impeachment motions” against Kumar whenever a “special session” of Parliament is called. It underlined that a removal notice against Kumar, submitted in April, is pending with the Rajya Sabha chairperson. Mamata Banerjee, CPM’s John Brittas, CPI(ML)’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, DMK’s M K Stalin, Sena (UBT)’s Uddhav Thackeray, NCP(SP)’s Supriya Sule, CPI’s D Raja, AAP and SP demanded SIR be halted. With vote chori, BJP, RSS & EC committed act of treason: Rahul Gandhi Sources said the INDIA bloc will jointly take forward the fight against CEC. LoP Rahul Gandhi said, “Vote chori is a crime against people and a direct attack on our Constitution. BJP, RSS and EC who organised it have committed act of treason. Justice will be served.” Mamata said Kumar should be arrested, while TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee demanded a “look out circular” be issued against the CEC to prevent him from “fleeing”. Stalin said Kumar had no right to continue in office and must resign. He sought a fair probe “into everything that transpired within EC”, adding those responsible should be held accountable. Terming the reports’ findings “explosive”, he said it cast “serious doubts” over the results of every assembly election held after the SIR exercise. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Abhishek Singhvi said the opposition has been raising questions about the fairness of elections and EC’s role for a long time, but their concerns went unheeded. “Misuse of Form 6, misuse of software, tampering with voter lists, decisions without transparency – these are all now in front of the country. Then what did the CEC do about these objections? In the first three phases of SIR, 13.8 crore names were removed from draft electoral rolls of 31 states and UTs.” Party general secretary K C Venugopal said, “How the hell can one man, acting on his master’s orders, strike off names at whim? How can he sideline fellow constitutional officers to take blatantly illegal steps that put our democracy in danger?” Singhvi said the revelations are an example of a “double bulldozer sarkar”. He said while an external bulldozer works against institutions, an internal bulldozer is CEC who bulldozed his own organisation and colleagues and “hijacked” EC. He said SC has clearly ruled that all election commissioners, including the CEC, function on equal footing, and the revelations about the watchdog’s functioning show that election commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, who dissented against the CEC were in a majority. 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