Chandigarh, Oct 23 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Friday that ‘vote chori’ (vote theft) posed a threat to Indian democracy and demanded the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling for an impartial investigation into the process and strict action against those responsible for irregularities.
Addressing the Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister added that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “is manipulating electoral rolls in the name of the Election Commission by adding votes in its favour and deleting those of the Opposition, and claimed that elections in Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana and Maharashtra had been won through ‘vote chori'”.
He affirmed the country has reached a stage where the BJP government once chosen by the people is now deciding who could vote, warning that dictatorship had taken control of all four pillars of democracy.
The Vidhan Sabha subsequently passed a resolution against the SIR by a voice vote, reflecting the state’s opposition to what Chief Minister Mann declared as ‘dhakkashahi’ (high handedness) and threats to citizens’ voting rights.
During discussion on motion to protect citizen’s voting rights under the ongoing SIR, CM Mann said that Punjab had taken the lead in the country by passing a resolution condemning the SIR exercise and stressed that every eligible citizen must be able to exercise the right to vote without fear of arbitrary exclusion.
“The right to vote is not a favour bestowed by any government. It is the foundation of democratic participation, and no eligible citizen should face unnecessary hardship or arbitrary exclusion while establishing their eligibility,” he added.
The Chief Minister said the Constitution envisioned by B.R. Ambedkar guaranteed equality, dignity and political participation to every citizen.
He expressed concern over voter deletions affecting particular sections of society and called for complete transparency and an impartial investigation into the electoral roll revision process.
“Any exercise that determines who can exercise the right to vote must be transparent, fair and accountable. The protection of every eligible citizen’s voting rights is essential to preserving the foundations of Indian democracy,” he said.
He questioned why objections in the Assembly constituency had reportedly been raised only after protests began and why the Election Commission had now decided to formally record the minutes of its meetings.
Referring to reported differences among Election Commissioners over the commission’s decision-making process, CM Mann called for the highest standards of public scrutiny.
The Chief Minister also criticised the BJP-led Union government over the functioning of central investigative agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation.
He stressed that constitutional and investigative institutions must function independently and without political pressure.
“The question before the country is simple: will India remain a democracy where every vote matters, or will we allow a system to emerge in which those in power decide whose voice deserves to be heard?” he asked.
He also raised concerns over the Union government’s approach towards Punjab’s efforts to attract international investment.
“I have been working to present Punjab as a preferred investment destination before international business communities, highlighting the state’s industrial potential, skilled workforce and entrepreneurial spirit.”
He said the proposed foreign visit intended to promote Punjab’s investment opportunities had faced obstacles and that subsequent action against him raised questions requiring scrutiny.
He also raised concerns about the Customs establishment and the need for transparency and accountability in the functioning of institutions.
“Punjab’s economic progress must not be held hostage to political differences. Investment, employment and prosperity are directly linked to the future of our youth. Every effort to attract investment and create opportunities must be encouraged,” the Chief Minister added.
–IANS
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