Congress on Wednesday termed the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as the “greatest threat” to democracy and put it at the heart of its campaign in election-bound Bihar as it vowed to continue its revelations on “vote chori” (vote theft).
Congress held a meeting of the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC), its first since Independence, at Sadaqat Ashram in Patna. It passed two resolutions – a political resolution and an appeal to voters of Bihar – at the meeting, which was attended by CWC members and Congress CMs and senior leaders.
CWC reiterated its dire apprehension regarding SIR in Bihar as “yet another dirty trick from the BJP’s toolkit to manipulate electoral rolls and cling to power”. “Their aim is clear: to disenfranchise the poor, workers, backward classes and minorities – the very people who are determined to oust NDA from Bihar,” the CWC said.
“‘Vote chori’ and irregularities in our electoral rolls have shaken public belief in the very foundations of our democracy. The CWC resolved to salute Rahul Gandhi for boldly exposing the shameless ‘vote chori’ and bravely fighting these brazen attempts to subvert democracy,” the political resolution passed by the CWC read. “This exposes the systematic and deliberate conspiracy used to manufacture an elected majority for the BJP. A government built on stolen mandates and rigged voter lists has no moral or political legitimacy,” it said.
In its appeal to Bihar voters, the CWC urged the people to recognise the power of their vote. “The Indian National Congress promises to continue the struggle, both inside Parliament and on the streets,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.
