'Vote Theft' Charge: Delhi Police Stops INDIA Bloc MPs From Marching To EC Headquarters

New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is leading a protest march of hundreds of MPs from the INDIA bloc to the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in New Delhi today.

The Delhi Police has barricaded the roads and stopped the MPs from marching towards the EC office. The march began at around 11:30 am from Parliament House today and was set to cover approximately one kilometre to the Election Commission office.

The demonstration is being held to oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and to raise concerns over alleged electoral malpractices.

Joining Rahul Gandhi in the march are other senior leaders and MPs from the opposition alliance. The INDIA bloc has accused the ruling BJP government of attempting to manipulate voter rolls in its favour, thereby undermining the democratic process.

The protest aims to pressure the ECI into taking transparent action and ensuring the integrity of voter lists. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will host a dinner meeting for INDIA bloc MPs later on Monday.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Congress launched an online campaign to mobilise public support against what it has termed as "vote chori" (vote theft). Rahul Gandhi shared a post on his X handle, urging citizens to register on a newly launched web portal — votechori.in/ecdemand, or give a missed call to 9650003420 to support the cause."Vote Chori is an attack on the foundational idea of 'one man, one vote'. A clean voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections. Our demand from the EC is clear - be transparent and release digital voter rolls so that people and parties can audit them," Rahul Gandhi wrote on X."

"This fight is to protect our democracy," he added. In a related development, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka has written to Rahul Gandhi, seeking evidence to back his claim that a voter had cast her ballot twice during the previous Lok Sabha elections.

No one has sought permission, says Delhi Police

Delhi Police on Monday said no one has sought permission for holding the protest, PTI reported, quoting a senior police official. The official said security has been tightened in Delhi ahead of the protest march.

"Barricades have been erected at multiple points along the route and police personnel have been deployed to maintain order and prevent any untoward incident," he said. Additional security vehicles and quick reaction teams have also been stationed in the vicinity of the EC office and surrounding roads to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Read More

1. Karnataka CEO Asks Rahul Gandhi To Share Documents Based On Which He Claimed A Woman Voted Twice
2. Congress Chief Kharge To Firm Up Nationwide 'Vote Theft' Campaign With State In Charges On August 11