‘Democracy will survive if Modi goes’: Kharge accuses BJP of ‘vote chori’ at INDIA bloc rally

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh had come to power through “vote theft”. Calling for Modi's removal from office, Kharge said democracy could survive only if the Prime Minister stepped down.

Addressing the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, Kharge alleged that those in power were choosing themselves rather than winning the public's mandate.

“Who votes for them? They choose themselves. The public does not elect them. The current central government, as well as the governments in Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, are all governments of vote theft. We must remove these thieves,” he said.

“Only if Modi goes will democracy survive. We must remove Modi to save democracy,” the Congress chief added.

The rally was organised as part of the INDIA bloc's campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have alleged irregularities in the exercise and claimed that legitimate voters are being removed from electoral rolls.

Several prominent Opposition leaders attended the gathering, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

The INDIA bloc's 'Chalo Delhi' march began at the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction before proceeding towards Ramlila Maidan. Thousands of supporters from different parts of the country joined the protest, which followed a public symbolic 'impeachment' programme against the CEC held in the national capital on October 31.

Meanwhile, the BJP held a counter-march in Faridabad, Haryana, as part of its 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, End Anarchy) campaign.

BJP leader and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan participated in the 'padayatra', where he accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of losing faith in democratic institutions.

Pradhan was accompanied by Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar, Minister of State Rajesh Nagar, Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam, several MLAs and party workers during the march, organised under the BJP's nationwide campaign.

(With ANI inputs)