In a strongly worded address on Monday, All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba raised multiple critical issues, focusing particularly on the tragic Bhagirathpura contaminated water crisis and what she described as systemic electoral manipulation through the Systemic Identification and Registration (SIR) process.
Demanding Murder Charges for Water Tragedy
Referring specifically to the Bhagirathpura tragedy where residents suffered from contaminated water, Lamba demanded that those responsible be charged with murder. She emphasized that the investigation must be completely impartial and should include anyone found guilty, regardless of their political position or government affiliation.
"The investigation must be fair and transparent," Lamba stated. "Whether they are ministers, MLAs, corporators, or part of the government administration, all those responsible must face consequences for this tragedy."
Compensation and Accountability Demands
Lamba demanded that the government provide Rs 1 crore in financial assistance to each affected family to ensure their future well-being and security. She questioned why citizens are forced to consume what she called "poisonous" water despite the availability of substantial funds for water infrastructure projects.
The Mahila Congress leader alleged that the Central Government failed to spend Rs 7,000 crore allocated under the Jal Jeevan Mission, leading to subsequent budget cuts that compromised water safety initiatives. She noted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had previously met with victim families in the affected area, highlighting the party's continued engagement with the issue.
Systemic Identification and Registration as "Vote Theft"
Lamba expressed strong opposition to the Systemic Identification and Registration (SIR) process, describing it as a sophisticated tool for "vote theft" that undermines democratic processes. She claimed that constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission, are being manipulated to disadvantage opposition parties.
"The SIR is nothing but an organized mechanism for stealing votes," Lamba asserted. "We have seen how constitutional bodies are being used systematically to defeat opposition voices across the country."
Electoral Manipulation Allegations
The Congress leader specifically referenced the Haryana election results, claiming that her party lost by only 22,000 votes due to what she alleged were "25 lakh fake votes" that compromised the electoral process. She criticized the Election Commission for failing to provide a comprehensive e-voter list that could have prevented such irregularities.
Addressing the implementation of SIR in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, Lamba raised serious concerns about ongoing vote theft mechanisms and questioned why senior political leaders and administrators have been unable to stop these processes from undermining electoral integrity.
Women's Safety and Budget Criticism
Beyond electoral and water safety issues, Lamba raised sharp concerns regarding women's security across the country, stating that daughters are "not safe anywhere" and calling for more robust protection mechanisms and accountability for crimes against women.
Regarding the recently presented Union Budget, Lamba claimed the government is protecting those guilty of financial irregularities while criticizing new financial provisions. She alleged that the budget framework allows individuals to retain undeclared wealth or move assets abroad without facing appropriate consequences, demanding stricter accountability measures and transparency in financial governance.
"The budget provisions seem designed to protect the guilty rather than punish financial crimes," Lamba commented. "We need stronger mechanisms to ensure black money doesn't find safe havens within our system or escape abroad without consequences."
