<p>Hubballi: Charging that the BJP-led government at the Centre misused the Election Commission (EC) due to which discrepancies like ‘abnormal’ addition of voters took place in places like Bengaluru Central parliamentary constituency ahead of the previous Lok Sabha polls, Government Chief Whip in Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed stated that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi would reveal many details and records of ‘vote theft’ during the Congress’ protest to be held in Bengaluru on August 5.</p><p>“EC has become a puppet of the BJP-led central government, though it should work autonomously. BJP misused the EC to win elections through discrepancies in the voters’ list.</p><p><strong>‘Beginning of fight’</strong></p><p>“Around 40,000 new voters were added in Bengaluru Central segment alone in just three-four months. Protest in Bengaluru is just the beginning of the fight against such acts, and we will also explore legal battle options,” he said.</p><p>After holding a meeting of Congress office-bearers and asking them to join the protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on August 5, he told reporters in Hubballi on Saturday that a delegation of top Congress leaders would also submit a memorandum to the Election Commission that day.</p><p>In addition to Rahul Gandhi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal, Randeep Singh Surjewala and others will participate in the mega protest.</p><p>Rahul Gandhi will reveal the details of ‘vote theft’ by the BJP misusing the EC, Saleem Ahmed said.</p><p>“We are staging the protest with accurate details after conducting the study.</p><p>“In coming days, this fight will be expanded to other segments where such discrepancies in voters’ enrollment took place. EC did not strictly verify the voters’ list revision, but is getting directions from Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. We are demanding transparency in elections, while Modi government is trying to kill democracy,” he noted.</p><p><strong>‘Get clearance’</strong></p><p>Saleem Ahmed also said, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi should be ashamed for not yet getting wildlife clearance from the Centre for Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project, though the state government is ready to implement. “Let all BJP MPs from the state fight to get the clearance, instead of being silent over the injustice to the state, he said.</p><p>Leaders like D K Shivakumar and B K Hariprasad, who have come from Student<br>Congress and Youth Congress, will not quit the party and join the BJP. This is just a dream of BJP leaders, Saleem Ahmed added.</p><p>Navalgund MLA N H Konaraddi, Congress leaders Altaf Halwoor, Anilkumar Patil, Sadanand Danganavar, and others were present.</p>
<p>Hubballi: Charging that the BJP-led government at the Centre misused the Election Commission (EC) due to which discrepancies like ‘abnormal’ addition of voters took place in places like Bengaluru Central parliamentary constituency ahead of the previous Lok Sabha polls, Government Chief Whip in Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed stated that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi would reveal many details and records of ‘vote theft’ during the Congress’ protest to be held in Bengaluru on August 5.</p><p>“EC has become a puppet of the BJP-led central government, though it should work autonomously. BJP misused the EC to win elections through discrepancies in the voters’ list.</p><p><strong>‘Beginning of fight’</strong></p><p>“Around 40,000 new voters were added in Bengaluru Central segment alone in just three-four months. Protest in Bengaluru is just the beginning of the fight against such acts, and we will also explore legal battle options,” he said.</p><p>After holding a meeting of Congress office-bearers and asking them to join the protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on August 5, he told reporters in Hubballi on Saturday that a delegation of top Congress leaders would also submit a memorandum to the Election Commission that day.</p><p>In addition to Rahul Gandhi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal, Randeep Singh Surjewala and others will participate in the mega protest.</p><p>Rahul Gandhi will reveal the details of ‘vote theft’ by the BJP misusing the EC, Saleem Ahmed said.</p><p>“We are staging the protest with accurate details after conducting the study.</p><p>“In coming days, this fight will be expanded to other segments where such discrepancies in voters’ enrollment took place. EC did not strictly verify the voters’ list revision, but is getting directions from Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. We are demanding transparency in elections, while Modi government is trying to kill democracy,” he noted.</p><p><strong>‘Get clearance’</strong></p><p>Saleem Ahmed also said, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi should be ashamed for not yet getting wildlife clearance from the Centre for Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project, though the state government is ready to implement. “Let all BJP MPs from the state fight to get the clearance, instead of being silent over the injustice to the state, he said.</p><p>Leaders like D K Shivakumar and B K Hariprasad, who have come from Student<br>Congress and Youth Congress, will not quit the party and join the BJP. This is just a dream of BJP leaders, Saleem Ahmed added.</p><p>Navalgund MLA N H Konaraddi, Congress leaders Altaf Halwoor, Anilkumar Patil, Sadanand Danganavar, and others were present.</p>
