Hyderabad: Telangana Congress leaders protested against SIR voter removal in Delhi, alleging that the Election Commission was deleting eligible voters through the Special Intensive Revision process. Following a call by senior AICC leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, they joined the INDIA bloc’s demonstration. They also said they would attempt to march to the Supreme Court.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud said the agitation would continue until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was removed. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of using SIR to win elections. Furthermore, he alleged that the BJP was resorting to electoral irregularities to remain in power indefinitely.
Mahesh Kumar Goud also criticised the government for failing to respond to opposition protests. He said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, ministers, MLAs, MLCs and district Congress presidents had travelled to Delhi to participate in the agitation. In addition, he reiterated that the leaders would attempt a march to the Supreme Court.
SIR voter removal draws allegations of electoral bias
Telangana Minister D. Sridhar Babu accused the BJP-led government of using SIR to delete eligible voters. He described the alleged deletions as vote theft. Meanwhile, he criticised the Chief Election Commissioner for taking unilateral decisions and accused the Election Commission of showing bias. He said the protest aimed to oppose the Centre’s actions and defend democratic rights.
Sridhar Babu said Rahul Gandhi had called for the cancellation of SIR across the country. Accordingly, Telangana ministers and Congress leaders joined the demonstration in Delhi to register their opposition to the Centre and the Election Commission. He said they had come to voice their concerns over the SIR voter removal allegations.
Bhongir Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy also condemned the alleged deletion of voters. He said removing votes was wrong in a democracy. Moreover, he accused the Chief Election Commissioner of favouring the BJP and alleged that BJP workers had been appointed as election commissioners. He further claimed that the party was pursuing such measures because it wanted to remain in power for 50 years.
Telangana Minister Vakiti Srihari likewise accused the BJP government of vote theft. He said Congress was fighting to protect the voting rights of ordinary citizens. Srihari added that he had travelled to Delhi in response to the call by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
He alleged that the Modi government was using SIR to delete votes and gain power in different states. Furthermore, Srihari accused the BJP of trying to secure power through unfair means. He said the party was attempting to come to power through illegitimate routes.