Modi, Shah want rubber stamp EC to remain in power: Kharge
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of wanting a “rubber stamp” Election Commission to help them remain in power.
Speaking at the INDIA alliance meeting, Kharge alleged that 13.3 crore voters have been removed from electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, terming it a serious threat to the principle of “one person, one vote, one value.”
He said the Election Commission ignored concerns over EVMs and voter-list manipulation raised with proof by opposition parties, and instead resorted to SIR which could disenfranchise genuine voters.
Kharge demanded removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, saying his two fellow commissioners had written to him 14 times in 10 months questioning his integrity, and cited the 2023 law removing the Chief Justice of India from the EC selection panel and granting blanket immunity to CEC/ECs. He said the Supreme Court itself had observed that inclusion of a cabinet minister in the selection committee makes the Leader of Opposition’s presence “largely ornamental” and that ECI must not only be independent but also appear to be independent.
Demanding restoration of pre-SIR rolls, complete transparency in additions and deletions, due notice before deletion, ballot voting instead of EVMs, and simple registration for first-time voters, Kharge said “the ballot belongs to the people and the mandate belongs to the people.” KMS-3K
