Gyanesh Kumar must face treason trial: Kharge at mock impeachment event

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of acting on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that the Election Commission was facilitating vote theft.

Kharge said Gyanesh Kumar must be tried for treason while addressing the INDIA bloc's symbolic public impeachment proceedings against the CEC in New Delhi.

The proceedings began at Kharge's residence on Rajaji Marg, with former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar chairing the event. The symbolic exercise came after opposition parties' attempts to move a formal motion seeking the CEC's removal were rejected.

Addressing the gathering, Kharge said 193 Opposition MPs had submitted notices in both Houses of Parliament seven months ago seeking Gyanesh Kumar's removal. However, he alleged that the notices were rejected without being taken into consideration.

"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," Kharge said.

He added that the symbolic motion was intended to protect the dignity of a constitutional institution rather than settle a personal score with the CEC.

"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," he said.Kharge accuses Centre of vote theft

The Congress president accused the BJP-led government of attempting to retain power through various means since 2014, alleging that political defections, the use of central investigative agencies and electoral bonds were part of a larger conspiracy.

"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," he alleged.

Claiming that there were hundreds of examples of vote theft, Kharge linked the alleged manipulation to the 2023 Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act.

He alleged that the legislation enabled Gyanesh Kumar to facilitate vote theft and criticised its passage in December 2023, when 145 Opposition MPs were suspended.

"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," he said.

Kharge further alleged that the law provided Election Commissioners with an unprecedented level of protection.

"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," he said.Kharge targets SIR, raises concerns over voting rights

Kharge also criticised the Election Commission's decision to announce the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise was intended to remove voters opposed to the BJP.

"The ECI announced the SIR overnight. It was implemented across the entire country, effectively to delete the votes of those opposed to the BJP," he alleged.

He accused the Modi government of using the issue of outsiders and infiltrators to divert attention from its failures, arguing that the Opposition was seeking to protect the voting rights of genuine and eligible voters.

"The Modi government is using the pretext of outsiders and infiltrators to conceal its own failures. They allege that we are attempting to include infiltrators. That is not the case; we are simply advocating for the retention of genuine, legitimate voters. We are doing this to safeguard their rights," Kharge said.

The Congress president also contrasted India's approach to universal adult franchise with the history of voting rights in several Western democracies, including the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and France.

He pointed out that women in many of these countries did not receive voting rights immediately after the establishment of democracy. In contrast, India extended voting rights to all citizens when its Constitution came into effect, irrespective of gender, caste, economic status or social background.

Kharge also alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had opposed universal voting rights at the time.

"India, however, is a nation that granted this right to everyone the moment its Constitution came into effect. It extended this right to women, Dalits, the marginalised, the poor, regardless of their background. Even back then, the RSS raised objections to this right and opposed it," he said.advertisementMeira Kumar says denial of vote strikes at democracy's soulFormer Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who chaired the symbolic proceedings, said India's democratic system was built around the power of elections and the right of every citizen to vote.

She said the INDIA bloc had decided to convene a meeting to move an impeachment motion seeking Gyanesh Kumar's removal. The motion would be moved in the Rajya Sabha by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, who would subsequently deliver a statement.

Meira Kumar highlighted India's position as the world's largest democracy, saying several countries across Asia, Africa and South America looked up to its democratic model.

"Ours is the largest democracy in the world. Nations across the globe, in Asia, Africa, and South America, look up to us and follow our model of democracy. Our democracy is driven by the power of elections, and at the heart of this electoral power lies the soul of the voter," she said.

She emphasised that every eligible voter must be allowed to exercise their franchise, irrespective of their background.

"The voter is the focal point of the entire electoral process. If even a single voter is denied the right to cast their vote, it strikes a blow to the very soul of our democracy. Preventing someone from voting inflicts harm upon our democracy," she added.- Ends