Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCT 3 (NPN): Dimapur District Congress Committee (DDCC) on Saturday staged a protest march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over what it alleged were serious irregularities in the electoral process and violations of voters’ democratic and constitutional rights.
The march from Congress Bhavan to the Town Hall area saw protesters carrying placards and raising slogans calling for an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities. The placards included “No one is above the Constitution”, “Every vote counts, every voice matters” and “Free and Fair Elections are our right” etc.
Addressing the media after the rally, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) working president C Apok Jamir alleged that the country had witnessed an unprecedented “theft” of democratic rights, claiming that the deletion of names from electoral rolls had undermined citizens’ right to vote and other constitutional freedoms.
Jamir alleged that the deletion of voters’ names had affected crores of citizens and amounted to an infringement of democratic rights. “We demand his resignation and demand that the constitutional rights of the people are brought to the fore,” he said, adding that the Congress was seeking justice and Kumar’s immediate resignation “in the interest of the people of India”.
Asked about the recent shifting of allegiance by elected legislators and councillors to the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF), Jamir described the development as “poaching”. He alleged that elected representatives who had secured their mandates under particular political parties were changing allegiance due to coercion or inducements.
He, however, said the people would ultimately judge such political developments during elections.
Asked about the Congress’s next course of action if the CEC did not resign, Jamir said the party would continue to observe developments. He maintained that Kumar should resign if his conscience led him to acknowledge that the alleged actions amounted to wrongdoing against the people.
‘Vote Chori’ claims backed by facts, figures: Apok
Responding to BJP Nagaland state unit president Benjamin Yepthomi’s recent challenge to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to produce facts and figures to substantiate his “Vote Chori” allegations, Jamir said the Congress had sufficient material to support the claim.
Jamir said the allegation was not merely a political slogan but was supported by facts and figures available with the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
“All along, for the last one-two years, he has been propagating and shouting ‘Vote Chor’. This ‘Vote Chori’ is not just a slogan, but it is also backed with facts and figures,” Jamir said.
He said the Congress could disclose the details whenever required and maintained that the party had the data necessary to substantiate its allegations.
Jamir further alleged that irregularities in the electoral process amounted to depriving citizens of their voting rights and franchise. He said the issue was particularly serious because ordinary citizens were affected and the exercise of their franchise was central to determining governments through elections.
“The aam aadmi are affected the most,” Jamir said, stressing the importance of the right to vote in a democratic system.