Senior Congress leaders in Haryana have launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP, alleging widespread electoral manipulation and a blatant disregard for public sentiment during a fiery public meeting in Rohtak. The event was a key part of the party's ongoing statewide 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' campaign.
Allegations of a Stolen Mandate
Addressing the gathering, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda declared that the current government in Haryana was 'not formed on the basis of public sentiment'. He argued that this is why the administration remains unconcerned about the people's welfare. Hooda accused the BJP of rendering the ideals of the Constitution irrelevant in its 'hunger for power'.
He made a bombshell claim, stating that the BJP, in collusion with the Election Commission, manipulated the voter list. 'Haryana will not allow democracy to be crushed,' he asserted. Hooda further elaborated that the BJP employs 'Sama, Daam, Dand, Bhed' (force, money, punishment, and discrimination) to influence election results across India, using vast financial resources from corruption.
A Litany of Grievances Against the Government
Deepender Hooda did not hold back in highlighting the state's problems, for which he blames the government's illegitimacy. He pointed to the tragic sacrifice of 750 farmers during the protests, which he said left the government unmoved.
'Today, the law and order situation in Haryana is dire. It has become a state of ransom, but the govt remains unconcerned,' he stated. He also mentioned suicides among police officers and the halting of development work across the state, including in Dadri.
He criticized the government's apathy towards farmers receiving Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the procurement of millet and cotton. In a stark accusation, he claimed that 15 lakh BPL cards were issued just before the elections, only for lakhs to be cancelled afterwards, denying benefits to many eligible families. The controversial Agniveer scheme was also cited as a point of contention.
Statistical Claims and Call to Action
Providing electoral figures, Hooda stated that in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress secured the highest vote share in Haryana at 47.6%. He emphasized that Congress's vote share increased recordly in all 10 constituencies, while the BJP's fell. The decision to form the government in the state assembly, he revealed, was made by a razor-thin margin of just half a percent, or 22,000 votes.
Echoing these allegations, Haryana Pradesh Congress president Rao Narendra Singh claimed that the people of Haryana had clearly decided to form a Congress government, but the BJP 'stole votes in every district'. He alleged that a staggering 26 lakh votes were rigged, meaning every eighth vote in the state was fraudulent.
Singh detailed specific methods of manipulation, including '500 votes per household' and the use of a 'photo of a Brazilian model'. He also claimed that 3.5 lakh votes were discarded after the Lok Sabha elections and raised suspicions about EVMs, noting that their batteries were found to be 99 percent charged after voting.
On this occasion, the leaders invited the public to a major national rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on December 14, urging people to join the fight to save democracy from what they term as the BJP's authoritarian tactics.
