Hyderabad: Leaders of the All India Students Federation (AISF) and the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of undermining democracy through alleged vote theft. They demanded Kumar’s removal and the immediate cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
AISF State General Secretary Putta Lakshman, AIYF State President Marri Sriman and AIYF General Secretary Nerlekanti Srikanth led a joint protest in Hyderabad. The march began at Liberty cross roads and headed towards BRK Bhavan and the Telangana State Election Commission office.
Carrying flags and placards, the protesters raised slogans demanding Kumar’s removal and accountability from the Centre over alleged electoral irregularities. They broke through barricades and surrounded the State Election Commission office, which led to a scuffle with police and a tense situation. Police subsequently detained the protesters and shifted them to various police stations.
Addressing the gathering, Putta Lakshman alleged that the Modi government was using the SIR process to systematically remove voters from electoral rolls and deprive poor and marginalised sections of their voting rights. He accused Modi and Shah of conspiring with the Chief Election Commissioner to weaken the electoral system and said their efforts would be opposed. He warned that depriving people of their voting rights would undermine democracy and called for a united struggle to protect the Constitution and electoral institutions.
Leaders warn of intensified protests
Marri Sriman alleged that electoral irregularities had undermined the legitimacy of BJP-led governments and accused the Election Commission of shielding the BJP. He claimed that Gyanesh Kumar was responsible for the alleged vote theft and demanded that Modi, Shah and Kumar step down. He warned that AISF and AIYF would mobilise students and youth from across the country, including in Delhi, to defend the people’s right to vote.
Nerlekanti Srikanth alleged that the BJP-led government was weakening public institutions, education and employment opportunities and was now attempting to undermine democratic rights. Describing alleged vote manipulation as a serious threat to the country, he demanded the immediate cancellation of the SIR process and Kumar’s removal. The AISF and AIYF leaders warned of intensified protests if their demands were not met.