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Venugopal Alleges Conspiracy Against Indian Democracy Over Electoral Rolls
K C Venugopal accused senior officials of working together to harm India’s democracy.
He named Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
He said voter names were wrongly removed in some states during a review of electoral lists.
Venugopal argued that this helped the ruling BJP.
He also said Rahul Gandhi had earlier warned about deleted voters.
Reports suggested two other election commissioners had raised concerns about the process.
The Election Commission said its decisions were unanimous.
The officials named in the accusation had not publicly responded in the report.
The Congress plans to discuss what to do next with its allies.
K C Venugopal alleged a criminal conspiracy involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
He accused the Election Commission of India of acting like a BJP party committee instead of conducting impartial elections.
Venugopal cited reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised concerns about voter-name deletions during electoral-roll revision.
The Election Commission said its decisions on the nationwide Special Intensive Revision were unanimous.
The Congress Working Committee is due to discuss its response, followed by consultations among INDIA bloc parties.
- Who
- K C Venugopal made the allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah; the Election Commission disputed the suggestion of disagreement over its decisions.
- What
- Venugopal alleged a criminal conspiracy to undermine Indian democracy through actions including voter-name deletions during electoral-roll revision.
- Where
- The remarks were made to reporters in Delhi, with the allegations referring to developments in Bihar, Haryana and Maharashtra.
- When
- The remarks were reported on September 28; the Congress Working Committee was scheduled to meet on September 29.
- Why
- Venugopal said the alleged actions were intended to benefit Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and called for protection of democracy.
Congress allegations
Election Commission position
Election Commission’s impartiality
Congress allegations
Venugopal said the Election Commission had been turned into a BJP party committee and was not conducting free and fair polls.
Election Commission position
Election Commission officials said the poll body was unanimous in decisions concerning the nationwide electoral-roll revision.
Voter-name deletions
Congress allegations
Venugopal cited reports that two election commissioners had flagged voter deletions and other issues during the revision, saying this supported Rahul Gandhi’s earlier claims.
Election Commission position
The report says the Election Commission maintained that its decisions on the Special Intensive Revision were unanimous; it does not describe a separate response addressing every deletion allegation.
Political responsibility
Congress allegations
Venugopal alleged the actions were carried out for Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and called for opposition parties to join a democratic-protection campaign.
Election Commission position
The named officials had not reacted to Venugopal’s allegations at the time of the report.
Key facts
- Speaker
- K C Venugopal, AICC general secretary
- Main allegation
- A criminal conspiracy to sabotage Indian democracy
- People named
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah
- Election process
- Pan-India Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Reported concerns
- Voter-name deletions and other issues reportedly raised by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Election Commission position
- Officials said the poll body was unanimous in its decisions on the revision
- Next political step
- The Congress Working Committee was scheduled to meet on September 29, followed by INDIA bloc consultations
Quotes
K C Venugopal
AICC general secretary and Congress leader
“So, this is a criminal conspiracy in connection with them. A conspiracy to sabotage the democracy in India. It started in Bihar and was seen in Haryana and Maharashtra.”
theprint.in
“We are open to anyone joining this fight.”
theprint.in
Sources
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