Major Congress Rally at Ramlila Maidan: What You Need to Know

New Delhi: The Congress party is gearing up for a significant rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, intensifying their campaign against alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue.

Key Leaders to Address the Rally

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi are anticipated to take the stage. Before the rally, senior leaders will gather at the party’s Indira Bhawan headquarters and proceed to Ramlila Maidan via bus.

Recent Debates in Lok Sabha

The rally follows heated exchanges in the Lok Sabha where the government and opposition faced off regarding electoral roll revisions and accusations of vote theft.

Attendance of Senior Party Officials

Senior leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Sachin Pilot are expected to participate, along with former Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel emphasized the rally’s importance, stating, "The Congress party has taken a step towards a decisive battle, and a large number of people will attend this rally." Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is also likely to join.

Grassroots Support for the Rally

A report indicates that 1,027 Congress leaders and activists have traveled from Jammu to attend, chanting slogans like “vote chore, gaddi chhore” and “Delhi chalo.” Jharkhand Congress President Keshav Mahto Kamlesh described the preparations for the rally as extensive, highlighting the participation of representatives from across Jharkhand.

Criticism of Election Commission

Congress MP K C Venugopal criticized the Election Commission of India, claiming the country lacks a neutral umpire for conducting elections. He expressed concerns about the danger this poses to democracy, stating, "We are lacking a neutral umpire in this country for conducting elections."

Venugopal announced that the Congress has collected over five crore signatures nationwide to address alleged vote theft issues and mentioned complaints regarding bogus and duplicate votes.

Tensions in Lok Sabha: Amit Shah vs. Rahul Gandhi

Tensions escalated during the Lok Sabha session when Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi clashed over accusations of vote theft. Gandhi challenged Shah to address the issues raised in recent press conferences regarding irregularities in electoral rolls.

Rahul Gandhi also called out the government and the Election Commission, presenting proposals including machine-readable voter lists for political parties and amendments to laws governing the Election Commission.

Shah shot back, asserting that Parliament would not bend to Gandhi’s demands and defended the SIR of voter lists as essential for "sanitizing" electoral rolls. The exchange concluded with opposition MPs staging a walkout, prompting an adjournment of the House.

Conclusion

The upcoming rally at Ramlila Maidan signifies a critical moment for the Congress party as they unite to address pressing electoral issues and demand accountability. With significant participation expected, the event aims to galvanize public support and reshape the political landscape ahead of the elections.