"Will Democracy Survive?": Digvijaya Singh Slams EVMs and Temple Fund "Theft"
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh raises alarms over EVM integrity, Election Commission impartiality, and alleged Ram temple donation scams.
Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh has launched a scathing attack on the current state of Indian democracy, raising serious alarms over the integrity of the electoral process and alleging a massive financial scandal involving donations for the Ram temple movement. Speaking to ANI, Singh questioned whether democracy can survive in the country if the fundamental pillars of fair elections and financial accountability are compromised.
Alarms Over "Vote Theft" and the Election Commission
A primary concern for the Congress veteran is the functioning of the Election Commission (EC) and the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Singh argued that an impartial Election Commission is the bedrock of a healthy democracy, but he alleged that the current system is partisan.
Singh specifically highlighted what he termed as "vote theft," pointing toward irregularities in both the electoral rolls and the EVMs. He expressed deep concern over the fact that voter registration is now managed entirely by the Election Commission, a move he stated is unacceptable.
Furthermore, he questioned the role of the judiciary, asking if democracy can persist if the Supreme Court places absolute faith in the Election Commission while ignoring the grievances and concerns raised by the opposition.
"Our battle is not about election outcomes; our fight is about our rights. It is my constitutional right that my vote is registered in the voter list," Singh asserted, emphasizing that the burden of ensuring registration should lie with the Commission, not the citizen.
The "Chanda Chori" Allegations: A Crores-Worth Scam?
Beyond the ballot box, Digvijaya Singh revisited a long-standing grievance regarding the misappropriation of funds collected for the Ram temple movement—a campaign he has termed "Chanda Chori" (donation theft).
Singh claimed that while official tax returns declared only ₹8.29 crore, the actual amount collected from devotees across the country was exponentially higher. He cited widespread reports from Ayodhya suggesting that the actual collections ranged between ₹1,400 crore and ₹1,700 crore, including donations of silver bricks.
The Mystery of Mahant Baba Lal Das
The Congress leader linked these financial discrepancies to a dark chapter from the past: the murder of Mahant Baba Lal Das, the court-appointed head priest at the time.
- The Conflict: Singh alleged that Mahant Baba Lal Das openly opposed L.K. Advani and demanded a full accounting of the donations collected by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
- The Crime: In September 1993, the head priest was murdered. Singh claims that the identity of the killers remains a mystery to this day.
- The Demand: Singh recalled his 1993 slogan, "Ram bhakt jaago, chande ka hisaab maango" (Devotees of Ram awaken, demand an account of the donations!), stating that he continues to demand this accountability today.
Singh expressed frustration over the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), alleging that the SIT convinced the Supreme Court that the misappropriation did not exceed ₹80 lakh, a figure he believes is a gross understatement of a "scam worth crores."
Foundation of the 'Satya Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra'
Digvijaya Singh revealed that these two core issues—the perceived erosion of democratic electoral integrity and the alleged theft of religious donations—form the foundation of the party's 'Satya Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra'. He maintained that the fight is centered on constitutional rights and the necessity for transparency in both the voting process and the handling of public donations.