Telangana CM Reddy Accuses BJP of Electoral Manipulation
In a rally in Delhi, CM Reddy claims the BJP is deleting poor voters' names to retain power, likening PM Modi to Ravana.
CM Reddy alleges BJP's manipulation of electoral rolls affects poor voters.
He compares PM Modi to Ravana, stating Telangana Congress workers are in Delhi to oppose him.
Reddy claims that 13.5 crore voters have been removed from rolls, with a potential rise to 20 crore.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy made strong allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a rally in New Delhi, asserting that the party is attempting to maintain its grip on power by removing the names of poor voters from electoral rolls. Speaking to party workers at Telangana Bhavan before the 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally, Reddy emphasized that Telangana Congress members had arrived in the capital as a 'vanara sena' (army of monkeys) to help defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he equated with the mythological figure Ravana.
Reddy's remarks drew a parallel to the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, where the vanara sena aided Lord Rama in his battle against Ravana. He accused Modi of securing a third consecutive term by fostering divisions among people based on caste, religion, and region. Reddy claimed that the BJP's strategy aims to win 400 seats in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections to undermine the Constitution and strip away the voting rights of marginalized groups, including women, Adivasis, and Dalits.
Providing specific figures, Reddy stated that approximately 13.5 crore voters have already been removed from the electoral rolls during the Special Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR), with the potential for this number to escalate to 20 crore. He described this as a deliberate conspiracy to eliminate 15-20% of votes nationwide to facilitate the BJP's return to power. Reddy expressed concern over the implications of such actions on democracy and the electoral process.
The rally, which aimed to mobilize support against the BJP, faced logistical challenges as Reddy claimed that the railways had denied a special train booking for 15,000 Congress workers at the last moment, creating confusion about transportation. He challenged Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, questioning their ability to thwart the determination of Congress workers to reach New Delhi.
Looking ahead, Reddy urged his party members to remain resolute in their efforts to bring down Modi's government, emphasizing that their commitment at Ramlila Maidan must lead to success. He concluded by asserting that Modi must ultimately return to Gujarat, indicating a strong resolve among Congress workers to challenge the current administration.
