Ambala, 13 November (R. Singh):- As part of the “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao — Chaupal Campaign” being conducted under the leadership of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, a programme was organised today in Saunti village. Addressing the gathering, Ambala City MLA and former Cabinet Minister Chaudhary Nirmal Singh launched a sharp political attack on the BJP government, stating that democracy belongs to the people. Elections are decided by votes, not by the wishes of any ruling party. If serious questions are being raised about the deletion of names from voter lists, electoral transparency and the credibility of the voting process, the government and concerned institutions cannot escape accountability. The fear that the power of the people's vote is being weakened is an attack on the very foundation of democracy, and the Congress will raise this issue through meetings in every village.
Among those who participated in the programme were campaign supervisor and former Haryana Youth Congress President Divyanshu Budhiraja, AICC observer and former MLA Ravi Joshi, former MLA Jasbir Mallour, District Rural Block President Dushyant Chauhan, Rural Block President Rakesh Mehla, Urban Block President Vinod Dhiman, Rohit Sharma Vishu and Prateek Chaudhary.
Nirmal Singh said that the people's vote is supreme in a democracy, but when questions arise about the protection of that very voting right, the silence of the ruling party deepens suspicion. The BJP government must understand that elections are not merely a means of gaining power but a test of public trust. “If those who come to power through the people's votes turn a blind eye to questions raised about the credibility of those very votes, it amounts to abandoning democratic accountability. The arrogance of power cannot be greater than the rights of voters.”
He said that the Congress party is demanding a transparent and impartial investigation into alleged irregularities in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, the removal of eligible names from voter lists and questions related to the electoral process. Taking a dig, he said that remembering the public only on election day and then ignoring questions raised about their rights is not public service but a game of political convenience.
AICC in-charge Ravi Joshi said that under the leadership of State Congress in-charge Sanjay Dutt and State President Rao Narender Singh, this campaign is not merely a political programme but an initiative to make citizens aware of their constitutional rights. Through chaupals in villages and wards, people are being made aware of the importance of checking voter lists, the value of their votes and the need to protect democratic rights.
Divyanshu Budhiraja, supervisor of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee’s “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” campaign, said that removing the name of even one eligible citizen from the voter list is not merely an administrative lapse but a serious issue affecting that person's democratic rights. Transparency, impartiality and accountability are essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process. The Congress party aims to create awareness among the public and strongly raise questions that require answers in the interest of the democratic system.
Among those present on the occasion were District Youth Congress President Harman Harry, Dalbir Singh Sarpanch, former Sarpanch Ram Kumar, Raja Danipur, Rural Congress General Secretary Shanti Shekhupur, Kamal Bachhal, Rural Congress Secretary Shingara Singh, Ajaib Singh Sarpanch Saunti, Sukhdev Singh, Jagat Ram Mehla, Randhir Singh, Gurjant Singh Saunta, Gurmel Singh Saunta and others.
