Jammu, Sep 28: District Congress Committee (DCC) Jammu on Monday held a protest demonstration against what it alleged “irregularities in the electoral process and the issue of Vote Chori” and sought the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest was organised by DCC Jammu, led by president DCC Jammu urban and former minister Yogesh Sawhney and DCC Jammu rural led by Neeraj Kundan.
Working president J&K PCC Raman Bhalla and former minister Mula Ram led the protesters, who tried to march from Shaheedi Chowk, Jammu towards the DC Office, Jammu. Protesters, carrying placards, were raising slogans demanding accountability and transparency in the conduct of elections.
Addressing the media, Bhalla said that the Election Commission of India carried a constitutional responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that every voter had confidence in the democratic system. He said that allegations concerning electoral irregularities and the credibility of electoral rolls and processes must not be dismissed without examination, particularly when such concerns were being raised publicly by political parties and citizens.
Bhalla said that democracy depended not only on the conduct of elections but also on public confidence in the institutions responsible for conducting them. He maintained that the Election Commission must respond to concerns raised by the opposition with facts, transparency and institutional accountability rather than allowing doubts to persist. He said that voters had a right to know that electoral rolls were accurate; every eligible citizen was able to exercise the right to vote, and every complaint relating to the electoral process was examined through a credible and transparent mechanism.
He further said that the Election Commission must uphold its constitutional responsibility without fear, favour or political consideration.
Addressing the gathering, Sawhney demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over what he described as serious allegations of “electoral irregularities.”
Sawhney referred to concerns raised by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and said that the issue of “Vote Chori” had been brought before the country well before the present controversy. He said that the issue was not limited to any one election or political party but concerned the credibility of India’s democratic institutions.
President DCC Jammu Rural Neeraj Kundan said that the Congress protest reflected the party’s demand for transparency, accountability and protection of democratic institutions.
Kundan also said that the Congress would continue to raise issues concerning the protection of democratic institutions and the rights of voters. He urged the Election Commission to respond to concerns raised by political parties and citizens and take steps that could reinforce public confidence in the electoral system.
Similar protests were held in all districts of Jammu province.
About The Author
