Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 16 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday distanced the INDIA alliance from the Congress party's campaign on alleged 'vote chori', stating that the bloc has nothing to do with the issue raised by the grand old party.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said, "The INDIA alliance has nothing to do with it... Every political party has the freedom to set its political agenda. Congress has made SIR, vote chori as its main political issue... We will choose our issues..."
Meanwhile, BJP leader Shashank Mani, said that CM Omar Abdullah understands that the SIR exercise is not meant to target anyone but aims to update the voter list.
Speaking on the issue, Mani stated, "I think Omar ji is understanding that the aim of SIR is not to harm anyone but to bring out the real voter list. He realises that this is an issue of electoral reforms only. In this way, people will keep separating themselves from the INDIA alliance."
He added that the revision process is a step towards ensuring transparency in electoral rolls and strengthening democratic processes in the Union Territory.
On Sunday, Congress held a 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, heightening the party's campaign against alleged electoral irregularities. The party intensified its campaign over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.
Congress leader and LoP, Rahul Gandhi, during his speech at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, vowed to change the 'CEC and Other Election Commissioners Bill, 2023' and to take action against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Sandhu, and Vivek Joshi once the Congress returns to power.
The Congress leader had said, "Remember these names: Sukhbir Sandhu, Gnyanesh Kumar, Vivek Joshi. The Election Commission is working with the BJP. Narendra Modi ji has changed the law for them and said that the Election Commissioner can do anything but no action can be taken against them. Don't forget that you are the EC of India, not Modi's EC. We will change this law and take action against you. Because we are fighting for the truth."