The All India Congress Committee (AICC) launched a nationwide signature campaign today, aiming to collect 5 crore signatures across the country against alleged “Vote Chori” and various electoral irregularities. AICC General Secretary G.A. Mir announced this initiative during a press conference held at Omoh, Verinag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag.
Mir emphasized that the campaign, running from September 15 to October 15, focuses on raising public awareness about voting rights and electoral integrity. He described the effort as a necessary response to what he calls the theft of votes, which he claims is orchestrated through collusion between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In his remarks, Mir highlighted a grave concern regarding vote deletion, claiming around 65 lakh votes have already been removed in Bihar, an action he termed as a “murder of democracy.” He stressed, “Vote Chori is a crime, a blot on democracy, and a direct assault on the electoral rights of people.”
“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 said.
Furthermore, Mir asserted that voters across various states face obstacles preventing them from casting their ballots. He pointed out instances of both the deletion of genuine voters and the registration of fake votes, highlighting alarming trends in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and now Bihar.
Under the leadership of party figures such as Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress Party aims to expose and counteract the alleged ‘ECI-BJP nexus’ that threatens to undermine voter identity and rights.
“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 declared via social media.
Additionally, MLA Nizam Ud Din Bhat articulated strong support for the initiative. He labelled the campaign an “indigenous people’s movement” spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi to enhance and protect electoral democracy and rights.
This signature campaign aims not only to draw attention to alleged malpractices but also to galvanize public support against perceived injustices in the electoral process. The AICC’s bold step seeks to ensure that Indian citizens feel empowered to exercise their rights freely and fairly.
