"Treasonous act": KPCC President BK Hariprasad demands arrest of CEC during Freedom Park protest
KPCC leader BK Hariprasad calls the Election Commission's actions treasonous, alleging massive voter deletion across India during a Freedom Park protest.
In a high-voltage demonstration at Freedom Park, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leader BK Hariprasad launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, labeling the actions of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar as a "treasonous act." Hariprasad demanded the immediate dismissal and arrest of the CEC, alleging a systematic conspiracy to undermine Indian democracy through the mass deletion of eligible voters.
Addressing a gathering of supporters, Hariprasad stated that the protest was part of a larger struggle initiated by Rahul Gandhi to protect the Constitution from authorities who are allegedly misusing their power. "We are fighting to protect the Constitution. This is our duty," Hariprasad declared.
Allegations of Massive Voter Deletion
The Congress leader presented alarming figures, claiming that large-scale voter deletions have been occurring across various states to influence election outcomes. He alleged that since the BJP came to power in 2024, the party has secured victories in six states through these irregularities. Hariprasad cited specific numbers to support his claims:
- Bihar: 6.4 million votes allegedly forfeited.
- West Bengal: 9.1 million votes forfeited, with an additional 3.8 million names flagged and blocked.
- Karnataka: 10.7 million voters removed from the list, consisting of 7 million classified as duplicates and 3.8 million others.
- Other States: Similar deletions were alleged in Haryana and Maharashtra.
Hariprasad emphasized that the voter list serves as the "solid foundation of democracy" and argued that stripping citizens of their right to vote is an attempt to uproot the democratic fabric of the nation.
Targeting the Youth and Gen Z
The KPCC leader specifically highlighted a conspiracy aimed at the younger generation. He reminded the crowd that it was Rajiv Gandhi who reduced the voting age from 21 to 18, ensuring the youth had a voice. He alleged that there is a concerted effort to remove the names of Gen Z voters from the rolls because they are increasingly standing against the current administration.
"They are stripping the rights of the youth generation born and educated in this country," he said, dismissing claims of political brilliance by the ruling party as mere election rigging through the Commission.
Claims of Unilateral Decision-Making
Hariprasad leveled serious accusations regarding the internal functioning of the Election Commission. He claimed that while decisions should ideally be made by a majority among the three commissioners, CEC Gyanesh Kumar has been acting unilaterally.
According to Hariprasad, on 14 separate occasions over the last 10 months, two commissioners expressed dissent, yet Kumar proceeded with his own decisions and brought amendments to Form 6. He went as far as to suggest that the CEC is acting under the direction of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, alleging that 130 million voters have been deleted nationwide following their influence.
A Call for Judicial Intervention
The leader concluded by calling upon the judiciary to intervene and curb the alleged malpractices of the Election Commission. He argued that if the courts do not act, the very essence of the Constitution and democracy could be destroyed. He also criticized recent legislative changes that allowed a central minister to be part of the Election Commission selection process, replacing the role of the Chief Justice, which he believes has stripped the process of its impartiality.