Opposition panel meets President Murmu, Rahul Gandhi says ‘vote chori’ proof sought

A delegation of Opposition leaders met President Droupadi Murmu on Friday evening, demanding action against chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and said she asked for evidence of alleged “vote chori” after a meeting that lasted over 45 minutes.“I actually expected the President of India to deny that ‘vote chori’ is taking place; I expected the President to say ‘no actually, India has a free and fair election system’,” Gandhi added. (HT PRINT)The delegation also accused the chief election commissioner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah of “conspiring” to undermine democracy.“We said PM, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar have conspired to destroy democracy. The President didn’t deny or argue. She accepted our statement and said we need to bring her proof of ‘vote chori’,” leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi told reporters after meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, NCP(SP)’s Supriya Sule, SP’s Rajeev Rai, RJD’s Manoj Jha, VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby and CPI’s D Raja were part of the group that met Murmu.Rashtrapati Bhavan did not release any statement till the time of going to print.Also Read | ECI fortified, 254 trains cancelled, metro affected, internet shut: Delhi braces for CJP's October 10 protest against CEC Gyanesh KumarThe meeting came on the fourth consecutive day of Opposition protests against the Election Commission, with Gandhi saying the bloc would submit a memorandum to the Supreme Court on Monday.“I actually expected the President of India to deny that ‘vote chori’ is taking place; I expected the President to say ‘no actually, India has a free and fair election system’. I was shocked and I was stunned that the President accepted what we said. The proof of ‘vote chori’ is known to the whole country. The 2024 election was stolen. We will happily take proof of ‘vote chori’ to the President when she is ready to accept it,” Gandhi added.The 10-member delegation submitted a memorandum seeking Kumar’s resignation, the repeal of the 2023 law granting immunity to the CEC and election commissioners, and an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It also demanded the restoration of 133 million voters allegedly removed from the rolls.Also Read | ‘I guarantee this govt will fall’: Rahul Gandhi tells INDIA bloc MPs amid anti-CEC protestThe memorandum also called for a return to paper ballots for all elections and the repeal of assembly election results over the past two years where, the Opposition alleged, conclusive evidence of vote theft had emerged.Kharge said the delegation had sought a return to ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said the INDIA bloc would provide detailed evidence of its allegations.Opposition to approach the Supreme CourtGandhi said the Opposition would approach the Supreme Court on Monday with a memorandum on the issue. On September 29, INDIA bloc leaders had decided to urge the judiciary to expedite hearings related to the SIR and the Election Commission.“All MPs tried to meet Gyanesh Kumar, but we were detained. Then we tried to go to Jantar Mantar, a place for public protest, but we were again stopped. Now we have come to the President and on Monday, this same group will go to the Supreme Court to give a memorandum,” Gandhi said.The delegation’s meeting with Murmu followed a march by Opposition MPs from Parliament’s Central Hall to Vijay Chowk, where police stopped them with barricades. While 10 leaders whose names had been submitted to Rashtrapati Bhavan were allowed to meet the President, other MPs staged a sit-in on Raisina Road.Also Read | 'Shocked that President accepted what we said': Rahul Gandhi makes big claim after meet over CEC rowAt a meeting in the Central Hall earlier in the day, Gandhi told Opposition MPs that the issue went beyond the chief election commissioner and called for the government’s removal.“If we continue to push the way we have in the last three-four days, I guarantee this government will fall,” he said.