NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was initiated to remove anti-BJP votes as he kickstarted the INDIA bloc’s public impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter irregularities.Moving the impeachment motion in the mock Parliament, Kharge said Gyanesh Kumar was running the Election Commission under the direct instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah.Here are the top quotes from his speech:
- CEC Gyanesh Kumar is running the Commission under the direct instructions of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Seven months ago, 193 opposition MPs moved a motion in both Houses of Parliament to remove the CEC.
- However, our notices were rejected, and no cognisance was taken of them. Therefore, the motion we have brought forward today is aimed at safeguarding the dignity of a constitutional institution. We hold no personal grudge against the CEC.
- Our intention is for the Election Commission to function impartially, in line with the spirit of the Constitution, so that the common man’s trust in it remains intact. We must ensure that the voting rights of vulnerable sections, women, and the youth are not surreptitiously deleted from a computer by someone sitting in Delhi.
- Since 2014, every possible conspiracy has been hatched to seize and retain power. They have stolen MPs, broken up political parties, toppled governments, and used electoral bonds, the ED, and the CBI, and now they are stealing votes.
- We have hundreds of examples of such vote theft. Gyanesh Kumar is able to facilitate this theft due to the 2023 Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act.
- This bill was passed in December 2023 after suspending 145 opposition MPs. It is shameful and a disgrace. This law grants the Election Commissioners a lifelong protective shield—a level of protection not even afforded to the President or the Chief Justice of India.