Mumbai: The Congress has launched a sharp attack on the Central Government and the Election Commission, alleging an assault on voters’ rights. The criticism was voiced at a press conference held in Thane as part of the ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ (Save the Vote, Save the Nation) campaign.

The Congress raised three key demands: immediately scrap the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, replace Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with ballot papers, and seek the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

Dr. Shikha Meel Barala, MLA from the Chomu Assembly constituency in Rajasthan and an All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer, addressed the press conference. She alleged that while the SIR process was intended to remove the names of deceased persons, people who had migrated, and duplicate voters, the names of many eligible voters were also being deleted from the electoral rolls.

The Congress alleged that the Election Commission was being misused to protect the interests of the BJP, describing the situation as an infringement of voters’ rights.

The party announced that its workers would act as ‘Voter Rakshaks’ (Voter Protectors) at the booth level to reach ordinary citizens whose names had been omitted from the electoral rolls. The initiative aims to help voters verify their names and raise awareness about their electoral rights.

Congress leaders also stated that hundreds of party workers from Thane would participate in a mass protest at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on November 1. The party declared that the Congress and the INDIA alliance would continue their united struggle to safeguard the Constitution and democracy.

Thane City Congress president Rahul Pingale, state general secretary Gurvinder Singh Bachhar, state office-bearers Rajesh Yadav, Mohan Tiwari, Dr. Gajanan Desai and Mahendra Mhatre, along with other senior Congress functionaries and party workers, were present at the press conference.