Youth Congress Detained in Fiery Clash Over BJP's Alleged Vote Heist

In a bold escalation of tensions over India's electoral integrity, hundreds of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers launched a spirited 'Halla Bol' march on Tuesday, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission (EC) of orchestrating a massive "vote-chori" (vote theft) scheme that undermines the foundations of democracy. The protesters, chanting slogans and waving placards, aimed to storm from their headquarters at 5 Raisina Road straight to the EC office, but were swiftly halted and detained by Delhi Police right outside their own gates.

Led by IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib, the demonstration echoed widespread opposition claims that the BJP manipulated voter rolls to secure power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "The BJP came to power after stealing votes," Chib thundered, highlighting how Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly exposed these alleged thefts with concrete evidence. "The Youth Congress will not stay silent while the BJP plunders our votes," he added, vowing relentless action against what he called a conspiracy to weaken democratic processes.

This protest follows hot on the heels of Monday's dramatic INDIA bloc march, where nearly 300 opposition MPs—including Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sharad Pawar—were detained en route to the EC headquarters. High drama unfolded as leaders like Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jumped barricades, while Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Mitali Baugh fainted amid the chaos, requiring medical attention. Rahul Gandhi, detained briefly, framed the struggle as a battle to "save the Constitution" and ensure "one person, one vote," rejecting the EC's demand for him to affirm his allegations under oath or apologize.

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At the heart of the uproar is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, particularly in poll-bound Bihar, where opposition parties allege it could disenfranchise millions of poor voters through stringent documentation requirements like birth certificates or passports—documents often inaccessible in low-literacy areas. Critics argue this revision, affecting nearly 80 million voters, is a calculated move to delete opposition supporters' names or add duplicates favoring the BJP. The EC has dismissed these claims as baseless, insisting SIR is a routine process to remove deceased or relocated voters, with all changes shared transparently with parties.

BJP leaders hit back fiercely, with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accusing the opposition of fabricating lies to sow anarchy after repeated electoral defeats. "They have no faith in democracy," Pradhan said, pointing to the opposition's poor performance in recent state polls despite strong showings in the 2024 national elections, where the BJP lost its outright majority and relied on allies.

The Youth Congress action also drew support from affiliated groups like the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), which staged a parallel march from their headquarters to Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability for the alleged fraud. Regional units, such as the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress, amplified the call, labeling it a nationwide fight against vote theft.

As detentions mounted, with protesters bundled into police vans, the scene underscored growing distrust in India's electoral system. Analysts warn that unchecked allegations could erode public confidence, especially as Bihar gears up for crucial assembly elections later this year. With Congress launching online campaigns urging citizens to "register against vote-chori," the battle lines are drawn for what could become a defining showdown over democratic transparency.

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