Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday (October 11) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of imposing an “undeclared Emergency” to suppress protests against alleged electoral manipulation. He alleged that restrictions on transport services and internet access, seizure of mobile phones and detention of young protesters were aimed at silencing the Opposition.
Speaking to media representatives at Kalaburagi Airport, Mr. Kharge compared the situation with the Emergency of 1975–77, during which he was a Minister.
“Trains were not disrupted, flights were not disrupted, and educational institutions functioned smoothly during the Emergency. But today, there is no declared Emergency; this is an undeclared Emergency,” he said.
He held Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah and the Delhi Police responsible for the restrictions and police action against protesters in Delhi a day before against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Mr. Kharge said the Congress and other Opposition parties had repeatedly raised concerns over alleged vote theft in Maharashtra, Haryana and Karnataka, including Aland and Mahagaon, but the Election Commission and the government had failed to act. He claimed that recent disclosures by two Election Commission members had strengthened the Opposition’s concerns about alleged electoral irregularities.
CEC immunity
Mr. Kharge questioned the immunity granted to the Chief Election Commissioner under a law enacted in 2023, alleging that it shielded the CEC from accountability.
“Judges do not have such immunity, the Chief Justice of India does not have it, and even the President of India does not have it. Why has it been given to the Chief Election Commissioner?” he asked.
He demanded the removal of the CEC and action against those allegedly involved in electoral manipulation, including Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah. He also alleged that electoral rolls were being manipulated through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and other methods to influence election results.
Demands ballot paper elections
Mr. Kharge reiterated three demands: elections using ballot papers instead of EVMs, removal of EVMs from the electoral process, and dismissal of Mr. Kumar.
He also demanded the resignation of governments that, according to him, had come to power through electoral fraud and the dissolution of the respective State Assemblies.
On the INDIA bloc’s proposed protest in Delhi on Monday (October 12), Mr. Kharge said he and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had sought an appointment with the Chief Justice of India between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to submit a letter. Other alliance leaders would join the delegation, subject to the number permitted to meet the Chief Justice, he said.
