Helpline To Note Complaints Of Rigged Counting

Civil society members have started a helpline number, where the concerned citizens can raise any malpractice or rigging of votes during counting. Voicing their concerns, activists, farmer unions and student leaders came together alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may rig the voting.

Addressing the media at the Press Club of India in Delhi, social activist Nadeem Khan said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has disappointed the people as the elections were conducted at a wrong time.

Many parts of India are witnessing intense heat waves that have claimed the lives of at least 77 people over the past 10 days. The victims include dozens of workers on poll duty.

Showing his solidarity with the victims’ families, Khan also shared his concerns regarding the rigging of votes. “Not only have we requested the opposition to be on alert so that the counting is not manipulated. We have started a helpline number. We have also notified the state election commission of India,” he said.

For the southern states, the numbers are +91 9741482975 and +91 6366705015. The residents of the northern states can contact +91 9870419280 and +91 7982597191.

Khan also informed that the helpline numbers will be operating from Delhi and Bangalore, wherein a team of prominent lawyers would be afoot in case something happens.

“If we get the names of (erring) officials, we will straight away head to the court. If there are a lot of issues from any particular party, we will go to the court for that as well,” Khan said.

The team also includes former judges, and civil rights activists who will be on alert. The civil society said that the BJP is trying to create a fear psychosis by also making the mainstream media show manipulated exit polls.

“The government is trying to take advantage of the exit polls that were released recently. One also needs to see a pattern. This morning the share markets were high, especially of some concerned corporations owned by Adani. We want to tell you and everyone else that this is just a demoralising technique,” Khan said on Monday June 3.

Syeda Hameed, social activist and a former member of the Planning Commission of India who was part of the conference said that the civil society has come out stronger this time as these elections are very important.

“People who were bhakts of BJP also have a sense of repugnance with this regime. We cannot do much, but tomorrow is a crucial day. They can use any technique to get to the pinnacle of power. In such a time young people should stand as a tsunami,” Hameed said.

She also said that even if I.N.D.I.A Bloc comes into power, people have to be vigilant. “We are fighting for our country irrespective of what the decision is and what the circumstances are,” Hameed added.

Activists and concerned people from civil society held meetings in consideration of June 4 and how they can stop rigging of votes as much as possible. In this regard, letters have also been written to concerned authorities like Election Commission of India, the Supreme Court and opposition leaders as well.

Political leader and veteran leader of the All India Kisan Sabha Hannan Mollah, meanwhile said that the current BJP government has ended democratic rights and divided the people.

“Mainstream and godi media propagated the government’s agenda. But after every round we heard that BJP won’t be getting an expected result. We have a doubt that the government can try to manipulate the results. Hence, we demand that the result should be genuine this time. We have written letters in this regard,” Mollah said, adding that the current elections are people versus the government. “Everyone is fighting this together,” he said.

Veteran journalist John Dayal also spoke at the conference and said that the manipulation of voting is a disturbing development. He also said that micromanagement of counting is necessary this time.

“We also have to understand and I have been saying this often that no Christian and Sikh is safe unless a Muslim is safe in India,” Dayal added.

Suresh Kauth, leader of Samyukt Kisan Morcha said that agencies are trying to manipulate the election numbers. “We won’t accept the results if proper procedures are not followed. We have already decided to go on protest if the election results are rigged,” Kauth said.

The Civil Society said that they would not accept the rigged results this time and will conduct massive protests. “We all have decided that we will go on protest,” Kauth said.

Farmer leader from Punjab, B. S. Rajewala said that he has seen a lot of elections, but the kind of environment the current government is trying to create is vicious.

“I have seen a lot of elections but I have never seen the environment that is being created now. The manipulation environment that is being created is so dangerous. Everyone is tense as to what will happen,” Rajewala added.

A group of 120 civil society organisations have written to every returning officer in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, asking them to ensure free, fair and accountable counting as questions are raised about the “neutrality and fairness of the ECI [Election Commission of India”.

This letter was planned at a conclave of 120 civil society organisations from across the country, as well as parties from the I.N.D.I.A alliance, held in Bangalore on May 21. At this conclave, member of the organising committee and former IAS officer M. G. Devasahayam said that since the doors of the ECI and the Supreme Court have been locked, “it is ‘We, the People’ who must now ensure free and fair elections”.