PANAJI: AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilot on Friday accused the BJP of practising “Votebandi” or voter suppression in areas where it fears electoral defeat, while alleging that lakhs of names had been deleted from electoral rolls in Goa and across the country.
Addressing a press conference in Goa, Pilot said the Congress’ Goy Rakhonn Yatra was aimed at directly connecting with voters and raising issues that, he alleged, the government could not answer. “First came Notebandi, now the BJP is practising Votebandi wherever they fear losing,” Pilot said.
Pilot claimed that around 1.4 lakh to 1.7 lakh voter names had been deleted in Goa and alleged that 130 million names had been removed from voter rolls nationwide. He also alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had run the Election Commission in an unconstitutional manner and claimed that the other two Election Commissioners had not been consulted on certain decisions.
The Congress leader further alleged that a centralised IT system at the office of the Chief Election Commissioner was being used to add or delete voters arbitrarily.
Turning to Goa, Pilot accused the BJP government of allowing politically connected individuals and builders to influence land-use policies. “Instead of a stable 10-year development roadmap, land policies are repeatedly altered to protect special interests,” he alleged, calling for greater transparency and a level playing field in government policy.
Pilot also raised unemployment, corruption and law and order, alleging that Goa had developed “a two-tier system” in which ordinary citizens and influential individuals were treated differently. “The youth of Goa want genuine jobs and opportunities,” he said, adding that the state needed a government that protected its land, mining and forests while creating opportunities for local talent.
Pilot accused the BJP of using “muscle power, money power” and exerting influence over institutions including the police, bureaucracy, universities and the Election Commission.
GPCC president Girish Chodankar welcomed Pilot’s participation in the Goy Rakhonn Yatra and claimed that his arrival had caused “panic” in Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s Cabinet. Chodankar alleged that Congress posters had been torn down in the Chief Minister’s constituency and said the party was conducting its programmes with the required permissions. “Our objective is to challenge the Chief Minister, target and defeat him along with his entire Cabinet,” Chodankar said.
AICC Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakre said the yatra had entered its 11th consecutive day and was aimed at highlighting national issues and alleged failures of the state government. He alleged that the ruling dispensation was “panicked” by the yatra.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao also welcomed Pilot, recalling his campaign for Congress candidates during the 2022 Assembly elections. Alemao said Pilot’s visit to the Chief Minister’s constituency was significant and alleged that Congress workers had faced intimidation and had their banners removed.
Pilot also responded to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s criticism of the Goy Rakhonn Yatra, saying BJP leaders should first present their report card to the public. On Chouhan’s remark that Rahul Gandhi had lost elections 99 times and would complete a century of defeats, Pilot said the public would answer the claim. He accused the BJP of showing “zero respect” for parliamentary conventions, the Constitution and opposition parties.
When sked about Sawant questioning how many people would turn up to meet him in Sanquelim, Pilot said every voter had the right to choose their political symbol, adding that reaching out to citizens was the Congress’ democratic right.
On political defections in Goa, Pilot said political leaders should focus on winning public trust rather than making predictions and urged Congress leaders to work together.
