The All India Congress Committee (AICC) rolled out a nationwide signature campaign today to gather 5 crore signatures across India. This initiative aims to petition the President of India regarding alleged “Vote Chori” and other electoral inconsistencies.
During a press conference in Omoh, Verinag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag, AICC General Secretary G.A. Mir emphasized that this campaign seeks to curb electoral malpractices. Mir noted that the campaign, running from September 15 to October 15, aims to raise awareness among citizens about their voting rights.
Mir fiercely criticized the collaboration between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging orchestration of vote theft. He indicated that approximately 65 lakh votes have already been deleted in Bihar, which he described as a significant threat to democracy.
“We are aiming for 5 crore signatures to present the petition to the President. Our campaign has made people aware of the importance of their vote and sensitized them to the protection of electoral rights — a first since Independence,” Mir stated.
He also claimed that the manipulation extends beyond Bihar, with reports of votes being improperly deleted or added in various regions. Furthermore, he remarked on the intimidation preventing voters from approaching polling stations.
Mir condemned these practices as a direct attack on democracy. “Vote Chori is a crime, a blot on democracy, and a direct assault on the electoral rights of people,” he insisted.
Highlighting the ongoing concerns, Mir acknowledged that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has brought to light systemic manipulation. This includes the deletion of legitimate voters’ names and the registration of fictitious votes, as noted in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Bihar.
By positioning the party as a defender of voter identity and rights, Mir confirmed that the Congress Party, led by Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, remains committed to combating the so-called ‘ECI-BJP nexus’.
“Powerful start to the Signature Campaign against ‘Vote Chori’ today in Doru Constituency, Anantnag! Hundreds of committed workers joined from my own polling booth to safeguard our democracy. Every signature counts! We won’t let our voices be stolen,” Mir shared on social media.
MLA Nizam Ud Din Bhat, who also addressed the gathering, referred to this campaign as an “indigenous people’s movement” initiated by Rahul Gandhi. Bhat underlined the importance of safeguarding democracy and the voting rights of citizens amidst rising political challenges.
