PANAJI
Several Congress leaders, including Goa president Amit Patkar, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and MLA Altone D’Costa, were detained on Tuesday during a protest against alleged “vote chori”. Protestors accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of acting under BJP influence.
The peaceful march to the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office at Altinho was stopped midway.
The protest was part of a nationwide agitation after Rahul Gandhi alleged in the Lok Sabha that over one lakh fake votes were found in a Karnataka constituency. Alemao said they were denied a meeting with the CEO and accused the government of “controlling” the ECI, which he claimed refuses to share details on vote deletions even with the Supreme Court.
Patkar vowed to continue the agitation in Goa, urging people to identify “fake voters” in all 40 constituencies.
He alleged that in South Goa, 80 voters from various communities are registered under one house number, a matter under investigation.
