Massive Dharna Held Outside DC Office Mohali Under the Leadership of Balbir Sidhu Demanding the Resignation of Gyanesh Kumar

Massive Dharna Held Outside DC Office Mohali Under the Leadership of Balbir Sidhu Demanding the Resignation of Gyanesh Kumar

No Interference with the Right to Vote Will Be Tolerated : Balbir Singh Sidhu

Chandigarh/S.A.S. Nagar 28 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) :  Under the leadership of senior Congress leader and former Health Minister S. Balbir Singh Sidhu, the Congress Party organised a massive protest outside the DC Office, Mohali, over the issue of ‘vote theft’ and demanding transparency and impartiality in the electoral process. A large number of Congress workers, leaders and office-bearers participated in the protest. During the demonstration, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was demanded, and an effigy of the Chief Election Commissioner was also burnt. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the Constitution of India guarantees every citizen an equal right to vote, irrespective of whether a person is rich or poor. He said that 13 crore 35 lakh people were deprived of their right to vote. He stated that the Congress Party firmly believes that transparency in electoral rolls, proper verification and protection of the voting rights of every eligible citizen must be ensured.

He said that during the last 10 months, Election Commissioners S. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi had reportedly recorded written objections at least 14 times regarding various decisions and orders within the Election Commission. These objections related to the registration of new voters, deletion or addition of names in electoral rolls, the SIR process and the maintenance of voter databases. In some instances, both Commissioners also raised objections that certain decisions or orders had been issued without their knowledge or consent. Sidhu said that these objections and the entire process should be subjected to an impartial and transparent inquiry so that public confidence in the electoral process remains intact.Sidhu said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls should be kept on hold until after the Punjab Assembly elections. He demanded that the names of eligible voters should not be deleted from electoral rolls under any circumstances and that the registration process for new voters should be made simpler and more transparent. He said that due to complexities in the new Form-6, many eligible first-time voters are unable to register their names.mSidhu said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has continuously raised issues related to electoral rolls and the electoral process. He said that if the name of any eligible voter has been wrongly deleted, or if a complaint regarding a fraudulent vote comes to light, it should be investigated impartially.

Raising questions regarding the political impartiality of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Sidhu said that the Election Commission must function while maintaining equal distance from all political parties. He demanded an impartial investigation into all disputes and complaints related to the electoral process and said that if any irregularities are found at any level, responsibility should be fixed. He said that the Chief Election Commissioner should resign to facilitate an independent inquiry.He said that today's protest was not merely a demonstration by the Congress Party but the voice of every citizen who wants their right to vote to be protected. Sidhu said that governments may come and go in a democracy, but the people's right to vote and their faith in the electoral process must always remain protected. He announced that until complete transparency and impartiality are ensured in the electoral process and public confidence is restored, the Congress Party's public movement will continue from the streets to Parliament.

During the protest, the important responsibility of stage management was carried out by Harikesh Chand Sharma Machhli Kalan, former Chairman of the Market Committee, Kharar, and senior Congress leader. The protest was addressed by Shri Kamal Kishore Sharma, President, District Congress Committee Mohali; employee leader Lakhan Singh; Vijay Sharma Tinku, Kharar Assembly Constituency In-charge; Udevir Singh Dhillon; Manjit Singh Jhalbhuti; Kamaljit Chawla; Yadvinder Singh Banni Kang; Ranjit Singh Naglian, Chairman, SC Cell; Ranjit Singh Pandiala, former President, District Congress Mohali; Bibi Baljit Kaur, President, Mahila Congress; Contractor Mohan Singh Bathlana; and Hardyal Chand Badbar.Among others present on the occasion were Bibi Paramjit Kaur, President, Mahila Congress Mohali; Bibi Swarnjit Kaur, former President, Mahila Congress Mohali; Kanwarbir Singh Sidhu; Ravinder Pal Singh Pali, former Mayor of Chandigarh; Pradeep Singh Tangori, Block Rural President; Satnam Singh Saini, Block President Kharar; Deepak Kaushal, Block President Kharar City; Sukhwinder Singh Lambardar, Block President Majri; Block President Hars Rishi; Karnail Singh, Block President Lalru; Happy Malik; Shri Ashok Kaundal; Gurvinder Singh Sohi; Kulwinder Singh Sanju; Avtar Singh Bhago Majra; and Amrik Singh Kambala, all Mandal Presidents.

Also present were Smt. Davinder Kaur Valian, Jasbir Singh Manku, Surinder Rajput, Inderjit Singh Dhillon, Gurcharan Singh Bhamra and Kuljit Singh Bedi, all former councillors; Mukul Sharma, Halka Youth Congress President; Jung Bahadur Kumbra; Sukhdeep Singh Nia Shahar; Rajinder Singh Dharamgarh; Manjit Singh Mote Majra; Buta Singh Suhana, former Sarpanch; Amrik Singh Mator, former Sarpanch; Rakesh Kumar Rinku Kharbanda, President, Guru Nanak Market; Ravi Vadaich Kharar; Dinesh Gautam, MC Karali; Chaudhary Rishipal Saneta; Chaudhary Bhagat Ram, former Sarpanch Saneta; Nahar Singh, Sarpanch Kurdi; IT Cell In-charge Paramjit Singh Chauhan; Karam Singh Manakpur Kallar; Major Sarpanch Manauli; Giani Gurmel Singh Manauli; Lakhmir Singh Kala Patton; Davinder Singh, Sarpanch Korra; Ajmer Singh, former Sarpanch Dau; Dalwinder Singh Saini Dau; Baljinder Lucky, Phase-1; former Sarpanch Ramandeep Singh Safipur; Sarpanch Ajit Singh Kambali; Harbhajan Singh Raipur Kalan; Harcharan Singh Grewal, Sector 69; Karamjit Singh Sidhu; Karamjit Singh Bhago Majra; Malkit Singh Mator; Makhan Singh Mator; Lakhmir Singh Mator; Amritpal Singh Tawana, Phase 9; and Mukhtiar Singh, Phase 9, along with a large number of Congress Party office-bearers, workers, village Panchayat members and Sarpanches.