Former Congress Leader Held Under House Arrest for Second Day, Alleges Vote Theft

Former Congress district president, Kasganj district coordinator and Etah district Pradesh organisation observer Chandra Gupta Vikramaditya was kept under house arrest by police for the second consecutive day at his camp office, Shri Radha Krishna Kripa Bhawan, on Agra Road in Hathras. While under police watch, he held placards carrying slogans and protested over the issue of “vote theft”. He also said that the fight to protect democracy and the right to vote would continue.

Chandra Gupta Vikramaditya said that a voice was being raised against vote theft under the leadership of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. He said protests were being held in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to him, protecting the people’s right to vote is the constitutional right of every citizen in a democracy. He said it was necessary to answer questions being raised about the fairness of the election process and to address the doubts of the people.

He said the Congress party was committed to protecting democracy, the Constitution and the people’s right to vote. He added that every party worker was standing firmly with the ongoing movement under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

Chandra Gupta Vikramaditya alleged that police restrictions and action such as house arrest would not weaken the morale of Congress workers. Instead, he said, such action would make their resolve even stronger.

He appealed to Congress office-bearers, workers and the general public in Hathras to reach Delhi in large numbers on 12 October and join the proposed protest against vote theft. He said the issue was not the fight of any particular individual, but was connected with strengthening democracy and protecting the people’s right to vote.

He said the history of the Congress party had been one of fighting against injustice. According to him, party workers would continue to raise their voice peacefully to protect democratic values.

He further said that asking questions was the right of every citizen in a democracy and that the voice of the people could not be suppressed.

During the house arrest, Chandra Gupta Vikramaditya registered his protest by holding placards with slogans written on them. The placards prominently carried slogans including “ज्ञानेश कुमार इस्तीफा दो, लोकतंत्र का मान रखो!”, “वोट की चोरी नहीं सहेंगे, ज्ञानेश कुमार इस्तीफा दो!” and “लोकतंत्र बचाओ, वोट बचाओ, ज्ञानेश कुमार इस्तीफा दो!”

The Congress workers present during the protest expressed their commitment to protecting democracy and the right to vote. They also spoke about taking the appeal to reach Delhi on 12 October to as many people as possible.

Senior Congress leader Amrit Singh Pauniya, former state general secretary of the Teachers’ Cell Pandit Avinash Chand Pachauri, district vice-president Rishi Kumar Kaushik, district general secretary Devendra Sharma, former city president Poo. Poo. Bohre, women’s city president Aamna Begum, former city vice-president Vinod Sharma, Shashi Guru, former Nyaya Panchayat president Arjun Baghel, city president of the Backward Classes cell Vishnu Kumar, former district president of the Social Media cell Kapil Narula, Vipul Sharma, former district secretary Harishankar Verma, former district vice-president Giriraj Singh Gehlot, Santosh Upadhyay, Pannal, Manish Kumar and Prashant Kushwaha, among other Congress workers, were present on the occasion.