BJP Weakened Democracy, Now Questions Congress: Vinay Kumar

The BJP, which has been in power at the Centre for 12 years, cannot shirk its responsibility. The government must answer the nation on the alleged large-scale irregularities in the voter list.

There should be an impartial investigation into the allegations of deletion of votes of 13 crore voters; the Election Commission should ensure the protection of voting rights of every eligible citizen.

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President Vinay Kumar launched a scathing attack on the BJP, saying that serious questions are being raised about democracy, the Constitution, and the impartiality of constitutional institutions in the country today. Instead of answering these questions, the BJP is blaming the Congress. He said that if anyone has spread anarchy in the country, it is the BJP; if anyone has weakened democracy, it is the BJP; and if anyone has weakened the basic spirit of the Constitution, it is also due to the BJP’s policies and working style. Now, to avoid its political responsibilities, the BJP is trying to point the finger at the Congress.

Mr. Vinay Kumar said that the BJP should not forget that it has been in power at the center for the last 12 years. The BJP holds power in the country, is responsible for the central government, and is also accountable to democratic institutions. So, on what moral grounds is the BJP questioning the Congress? If questions are being raised about the country’s electoral process, if complaints of irregularities in voter lists are surfacing, and if concerns are being expressed about citizens’ voting rights, it is the responsibility of the government and the relevant constitutional institutions to respond to these questions. The BJP is in power, the responsibility lies with the BJP, and the Congress is targeted to avoid questions—this double standard can no longer be tolerated.

He said that before blaming the Congress, the BJP should give an account of its 12 years of rule to the people of the country. The BJP should explain what it has done to strengthen democracy, what steps it has taken to increase public confidence in the electoral process, and what arrangements it has made to ensure transparency in voter lists. Democracy is not strengthened merely by giving speeches, raising slogans, and blaming political opponents. Democracy is strengthened when every citizen’s vote is protected, every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot, and the people’s confidence in the electoral process remains intact.

The country needs answers on the allegation that the votes of 13 crore voters were cancelled.

The state Congress president said that the questions being raised by the Congress party regarding the large-scale deletion of names from voter lists are extremely serious. If the claim that 130 million voters have been deleted is true, then this is not a simple administrative matter, but a crucial issue concerning the country’s democratic structure and the constitutional rights of citizens. He demanded that this claim be investigated impartially and transparently, and that the facts regarding the names removed from the voter list, the reasons for the deletion, and the actual number of affected voters be made public.

He said that no eligible citizen should be wrongly excluded from the voter list. A vote is not just a mark on a piece of paper, but a symbol of a citizen’s voice, participation, and their stake in democracy. It is a fundamental responsibility of a democratic system to equally protect the right to vote of every eligible citizen—whether poor or rich, rural or urban, young or old.

Mr. Vinay Kumar stated that Congress is clear that the voter list must be ensured to be accurate, transparent, and fair. Any irregularities in the deletion of names must be investigated, the affected citizens must receive justice, and concrete steps must be taken to prevent such complaints from recurring in the future. This issue cannot be confined to political accusations and counter-accusations, as it directly concerns the rights of the citizens of the country.

BJP should first look within itself and then teach Congress a lesson on democracy.

Mr. Vinay Kumar said that the BJP’s history and political style are before the people of the country. Whenever the government is asked for answers, it attempts to shift blame to the opposition to divert attention from core issues. Why does the BJP become uncomfortable when the Congress speaks about democracy, the Constitution, electoral transparency, and people’s rights? If the BJP has full confidence in its electoral process and democratic system, it should respond with facts instead of avoiding questions.

He said the BJP must understand that in a democracy, suppressing the opposition’s voice or blaming those who ask questions does not end the public’s concerns. It is the Congress party’s responsibility to raise issues related to public rights and demand accountability from the government. Asking questions in a democracy is not a crime, but rather a hallmark of a healthy democratic system.

He said that the people of the country have earned the right to elect their representatives under the Constitution. Protecting this right should be the primary responsibility of any government. If questions arise regarding the election process, they should be resolved through facts, transparency, and impartial investigation, not through political rhetoric.

Democracy will be strengthened by protecting the rights of the people, not by dividing the society on the basis of caste and religion.

The state Congress president alleged that the BJP repeatedly attempts to divert public attention from real issues by bringing caste and religion into political discourse. He said that the country’s strength lies in its diversity, social harmony, and constitutional values. The Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights to every citizen, and the success of democracy depends on how impartially these rights are protected.

He said that the country today needs a politics that strengthens citizens’ rights rather than dividing them. Diverting political attention from meaningful answers to issues like inflation, unemployment, farmers’ problems, the future of youth, and public trust in democratic institutions is not the solution.

He said that Congress will continue to raise its voice in defense of the Constitution, democratic values, social justice, and citizens’ rights. The BJP must decide whether it wants to answer serious questions or evade accountability by turning every question into political accusations and counter-accusations.

On November 1st, the cry of “Save the Vote – Save the Country” will resonate in Delhi.

Mr. Vinay Kumar said that the “Save the Vote – Save the Country” mega rally, to be held at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1st, is an important opportunity to raise issues related to the protection of democracy, the Constitution, and the right to vote at the national level. At this mega rally, INDIA Alliance leaders and workers will strongly raise the demand for transparency in the electoral process, fairness of voter lists, and protection of every eligible citizen’s vote.

He said that no matter how much rhetoric the BJP makes about this mega rally, questions related to democracy cannot be suppressed. When issues of citizens’ rights, electoral transparency, and the accountability of constitutional institutions are at stake, the opposition has a responsibility to be the voice of the people. Congress will not shy away from this responsibility.

He said that the November 1st mega rally is not merely a political party event, but an opportunity to voice the demand for transparency and accountability in a democratic system. Congress workers will reach out to the public across the country to raise awareness about the importance of voting rights and demand that no eligible citizen’s vote be unfairly denied.

Mr. Vinay Kumar said that the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee is also making efforts at the organizational level to ensure the success of this campaign. Party officials, district and block units, and workers have been called upon to spread this message of protecting democracy and voting rights to the public and ensure active participation in the mega rally to be held in Delhi.

Democracy is not the property of any party, it is the trust of the people of the country.

Finally, Mr. Vinay Kumar said that the BJP must clearly understand that democracy is not the fiefdom of any political party. It is a trust of the people, protected by the Constitution. Powers come and go, but the credibility of the Constitution and democratic institutions is the country’s enduring strength. No government can be considered above the rights of the people and democratic values.

He said that Congress will not be intimidated by the BJP’s rhetoric nor will it shy away from raising questions related to public rights. If the BJP believes democracy is completely safe under its rule, it should present its case with facts instead of making accusations. The need of the hour is to ensure impartial investigations into questions related to voter lists, transparency in the election process, and the protection of the right to vote for every eligible citizen.

Mr. Vinay Kumar said that no matter how many accusations the BJP makes, Congress will continue to raise its voice on the issue of protecting democracy, the Constitution, and the rights of the people. The people of the country want answers, transparency, and assurance that their votes will be protected. On November 1st, this demand will be raised with full force from Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan—”Only if the vote is saved will democracy be saved; only if democracy is saved will the soul of the Constitution be protected.”