Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar asserted on Sunday that the Congress party’s rally in New Delhi against alleged ‘vote chori’ (vote theft) is fundamentally aimed at protecting every citizen's right to vote. The Karnataka Congress chief accused the Central government of restricting vehicles carrying Congress workers from entering Delhi to participate in the mega rally at Ramlila Maidan.
"As per the information that I have received this morning, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the central government are stopping vehicles (with Congress workers) from coming to Delhi, they are apparently not allowing vehicles to enter the city. I don't know why they are doing this. I don't know why the BJP and the central government are so worried. But nobody can stop us," he said.
Shivakumar confirmed a large turnout from Karnataka, saying that approximately 3,500-4,000 party leaders and workers have arrived. He noted that while the state Congress arranged accommodation for 1,500 people, over 2,000 others made their own arrangements, arriving by flight and train.
"About 1.42 crore signatures have been gathered from the state (as part of its signature campaign)," Shivakumar said, emphasising the broad participation.
He told reporters in New Delhi that there is immense enthusiasm among party members who are committed to saving the Congress party in the state and the country, and protecting the citizens' right to vote.
Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly terming the Congress rally an "act of frustration" due to electoral losses, Shivakumar refused to engage, saying, "Let them say anything for their enjoyment. We, the Congressmen, won't think about electoral victories and losses."
He stressed the party's foundational commitment to the nation, referencing historical sacrifices: "We think about the sacrifice made by our elders during the freedom struggle, to give democracy and a constitution to the country. Sonia Gandhi sacrificed power (PM post) and gave it to an economist like Manmohan Singh. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for this country."
He noted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will also be attending the rally, stating, "Both of us will go together (to the venue) from the Indira Gandhi Bhavan (in Delhi)."
As Shivakumar departed the Karnataka Bhavan, supporters raised slogans hailing him as the "next CM." He, however, declined to comment on any potential meeting with the Congress high command, including Sonia Gandhi, regarding the issue of leadership change in Karnataka.
Also read: Shivakumar will be CM on Jan 6: Cong MLA HA Iqbal Hussain
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