The Punjab assembly on Friday passed a resolution demanding an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities in the electoral process and voter lists under chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while expressing serious concern over complaints regarding the large-scale deletion of citizens’ names from electoral rolls and eligible voters being deprived of their voting rights.
Moved by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on the second day of the assembly session, the official resolution was unanimously passed by members present in the House in the absence of legislators of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mann also criticised the BJP-led central government over the functioning of central investigative agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation, claiming that they come knocking at doors at the time of elections. “Cases get over after the elections. All seems okay now in West Bengal and Bihar. Supporting the resolution, Ayali, now with the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), demanded the CEC’s resignation, alleging that he was working to help the BJP win elections. AAP legislator Inderjit Kaur Mann targeted the BJP over alleged electoral irregularities, calling for the scrapping of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and a return to ballot papers. AAP MLA Amandeep Kaur also alleged that the BJP-led central government was using the poll body for political gains and demanded action against the CEC.
During the session, the chief minister also shared the status of canal-water utilisation in the state, stating that it had increased from 22% in 2022 to over 80%, with 14,000 km of pipelines laid to supply irrigation water to agricultural fields. The government plans to lay another 6,000 km of pipelines to expand the network, he said.
An impartial probe and fixing accountability regarding objections raised about the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) under Gyanesh Kumar and decisions related to voter lists were necessary in the interest of democracy, according to the resolution. “If concrete evidence of criminal violations emerges against any person during the investigation, criminal proceedings must be initiated against them as per the applicable law,” it said. Participating in the debate on the resolution, chief minister Bhagwant Mann said “vote chori” (theft) posed a serious threat to democracy and demanded strict action against those responsible for irregularities. “People used to elect the government earlier, but the central government is now deciding who will vote,” he said, claiming that 14 crore voters were removed from the electoral rolls across the country under the guise of SIR. CBI and ED are now at our doorsteps,” he said.
