HPCC to begin ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ protests from Karnal today

The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) will kick off its state-wide agitation — “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” — from Karnal on Wednesday to “protect democracy and protest against the theft of the people’s mandate.”

A large public meeting will be held in front of Pathak Hospital, Karnal, followed by a march to the District Secretariat, where party leaders will submit a memorandum addressed to the President to the Deputy Commissioner.

The movement will be led by HPCC president Rao Narender Singh, national secretary and Haryana co-incharge Prafull Gudthe and Congress Working Committee member and MP Deepender Singh Hooda.

Accusing the ruling BJP of “stealing people’s votes,” Rao Narender Singh said, “The BJP government in Haryana has openly stolen the people's votes. The Election Commission's inaction and the administration's connivance have shaken the fundamental pillars of democracy. The Congress will never tolerate this theft of the mandate and will raise its voice from the streets to the House of Representatives.”

He stressed that the agitation was not directed against any individual or political party but was aimed at “protecting the rights of the people, the dignity of democracy and the Constitution.”

“Our protest will be completely peaceful, but the BJP government will have to listen to the voice of the people,” Rao added. “Those who stole votes will have to answer. The people have rejected this corrupt and deceitful government. Now is the time for those who have come to power by stealing votes to step down and apologise to the people.”

The HPCC has appealed to all senior leaders, workers and supporters to assemble in large numbers at Karnal to strengthen what it called a “people’s movement for restoring democracy and transparent governance in Haryana.”

The decision to hold the agitation was taken at the HPCC general body meeting today. After Karnal, the protest will move to Ambala on November 13, and the series of demonstrations will conclude in Gurugram on December 11.