Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy described the fight for voting rights as a new freedom struggle against alleged attempts to disenfranchise citizens through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
He accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of acting at the behest of the Narendra Modi-led Union government. He also alleged that the revision exercise threatened the constitutional voting rights of several sections of society.
Addressing a meeting at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday, Revanth Reddy compared the current political campaign with India’s independence movement. The meeting formed part of the Congress-led ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ (Save Vote, Save Country) campaign.
Revanth Reddy links fight for voting rights to freedom movement
Revanth Reddy said earlier generations had fought British colonial rule to secure self-governance. Similarly, he argued, citizens now faced another struggle to protect their democratic rights.
He said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the INDIA bloc were leading the campaign nationally. Drawing parallels with the freedom movement, the Chief Minister recalled the historic “Simon Go Back” slogan against British rule.
He said the present political situation demanded similar protests under the slogans “Gyanesh Go Back” and “SIR Go Back.” According to Revanth Reddy, the fight for voting rights had become necessary to protect the constitutional safeguards governing democratic participation.
CM alleges conspiracy to remove voters through SIR
The Chief Minister alleged that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls formed part of a conspiracy to deprive certain communities of their voting rights. He claimed that Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes and young voters faced the threat of exclusion from electoral rolls.
Additionally, he alleged that individuals who criticised the ruling party on social media could also face disenfranchisement. Revanth Reddy accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of serving the political interests of the Union government rather than protecting electoral rights.
He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over their alleged protection of the Chief Election Commissioner. The Chief Minister challenged both leaders to explain why they were shielding Gyanesh Kumar if no conspiracy existed behind his appointment.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud attended the meeting. Ministers, AICC observer Sachin Sawant, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other senior Congress leaders also participated in the programme.