New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) Ahead of the launch of the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ from Sasaram, Bihar, the Congress today described the upcoming campaign — which will also see the participation of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi— as a historic struggle to protect the fundamental right to vote.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “Whenever Rahul Gandhi has embarked on a yatra, Indian democracy has turned a page. This yatra will be no different. It is a milestone in our collective struggle, a moment that can reshape the future of democracy in this country”.
He said, “The yatra is more than just a political journey. It is a movement to preserve freedom, ensure justice, and safeguard identity”.
Talking about the yatra’, Khera said it will cover 1,300 km over 16 days, beginning on August 17 and ending with a massive rally in Patna on September 1. Senior INDIA bloc leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav will participate.
Khera described the march as a fight for the fundamental principle of ‘One Man, One Vote’. “Voting is sacred. It’s a festival of democracy. We cannot allow it to be hijacked,” he said.
Khera also took potshots at the Election Commission, accusing it of losing independence and becoming a “compartment of the so-called double-engine government.”
“This is unacceptable to us. We are committed to opposing it and remaining vigilant. We are not asking people to support the Congress or even the INDI Alliance. We are asking them to support India, support democracy,” he asserted.
“Breathing freely in an independent India is only possible because we have the right to vote. If we couldn’t vote, we wouldn’t even be able to breathe freely,” Khera said, adding that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership in this movement aims to guarantee that every Indian lives with dignity and freedom.
Khera claimed that the BJP has been caught red-handed in electoral fraud, particularly in Bihar, where fake names were added and genuine voters removed from electoral rolls.
“Had the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) not been initiated, many of these manipulations may never have come to light. Now, ordinary citizens are coming forward with evidence,” he claimed.
He said the INDIA Bloc, along with activists and voter rights volunteers, had raised the issue forcefully, leading to intervention by the Supreme Court.
“This wasn’t just about stealing votes — it was about stealing identities: of Dalits, the marginalized, minorities, daily wage workers,” Khera added.
He warned that disenfranchisement is only the first step in a larger conspiracy to deny basic rights and government benefits to the underprivileged.
“Today, their vote is being taken away. Tomorrow, they’ll be removed from welfare schemes — no ration, no housing, no support. It’s a calculated move to erase them from the system,” he alleged.
