New Delhi: “I had expected President Droupadi Murmu to deny our allegation in the ‘vote theft’ issue. But she did not say anything of the sort,” said Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. He said this had left him shocked and bewildered.
India alliance party members, who have been holding protests in several phases demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, met President Droupadi Murmu on Friday night in this regard. Speaking about this meeting, Rahul Gandhi said:
“I expected the President to deny that vote theft had taken place in the country. I expected him to say that elections are being held fairly and freely in India. But he accepted what we said. That shocked and surprised me.
On our side, we submitted a petition to him. In it, we stated that Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have carried out actions that are destroying democracy in the country. The President did not deny it, question it, or debate it. He asked us to submit evidence related to it.
Election theft is something everyone in the country knows about. This has happened state by state. Even in the 2024 general election, this election theft took place. However, the President is asking for proof. If he is ready to accept the evidence, we are ready to submit it,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Leaders from the opposition parties jointly met President Droupadi Murmu. Those present included Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party’s Rajiv Rai, Nationalist Congress Party’s Supriya, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, CPI(M)’s M.A. Baby, Communist Party of India’s D. Raja, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan.
Key points stated in the petition submitted by the opposition parties to President Droupadi Murmu
>> Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should resign.
>> The SIR exercise must be stopped immediately. In addition, the names of 1.33 crore voters who were illegally removed from the electoral roll must be reinstated.
>> The state legislative assembly elections held over the past two years should be annulled.