Congress Rally Against ‘Vote Chori’ Aims to Protect Voting Rights: D K Shivakumar

New Delhi/Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said that the Congress party’s rally in New Delhi against alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) is aimed at protecting the voting rights of every citizen in the country.

Addressing reporters in the national capital, Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, accused the BJP-led central government of attempting to block Congress workers from entering Delhi for the rally. He claimed that vehicles carrying party workers were allegedly being stopped from entering the city.

According to him, around 3,500 to 4,000 Congress leaders and workers from Karnataka have reached Delhi to participate in the mega rally being held at Ramlila Maidan. “We have arranged accommodation for about 1,500 people, while more than 2,000 have made their own arrangements. Many have travelled by train and flight,” he said, adding that nearly 1.42 crore signatures were collected in Karnataka as part of the party’s signature campaign.

Shivakumar said there was strong enthusiasm among party workers and leaders, who are committed to protecting democracy and the constitutional right to vote. “Congress is fighting on behalf of the people of this country. There is no politics in this fight. No one can stop our voice,” he asserted.

Responding to criticism from BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who reportedly described the rally as an act of frustration after electoral losses, Shivakumar said he did not wish to react to comments from the rulingxen party. He said Congress draws inspiration from the sacrifices made by its leaders during the freedom struggle.

“Our elders sacrificed for the country to give us democracy and the Constitution. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru went to jail. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi laid down their lives for the nation. Sonia Gandhi gave up the post of Prime Minister in the national interest,” he said.

He also said that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has taken responsibility at a challenging time for the country, just as Mahatma Gandhi did during the freedom movement.

Shivakumar confirmed that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would also attend the rally, and both leaders would proceed together to the venue from the Congress office in Delhi. However, he declined to comment on reports of any meetings with the Congress high command regarding leadership changes in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, supporters raised slogans calling Shivakumar the “next Chief Minister” as he departed from Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi.