'Vote Chori Ki Raasleela’: Youth Congress burns Ravan effigy with Gyanesh's face

CEC gyanesh Kumar's effigy burnt by IYC

NEW DELHI: The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Monday burned an effigy of Ravan bearing the face of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi, demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The protest was held at the IYC headquarters on Raisina Road and featured a street performance titled Vote Chori Ki Raasleela, aimed at highlighting allegations of electoral manipulation and questioning the transparency and impartiality of the poll panel, according to a statement issued by the organisation.Addressing the gathering, IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib said the protests would continue until Kumar resigned or was jailed.“Gyanesh Kumar, who is finishing off the democracy and Constitution of the country, cannot save himself. We will continue to protest in different forms. This will continue until he goes behind bars or resigns. He has indulged in ‘vote chori’. Until he is jailed, people of the country will continue to protest,” Chib told news agency ANI.

Chib said the Election Commission must be accountable to the public and that the CEC should take moral responsibility for concerns raised over electoral transparency.

“Democracy is not merely about holding elections; it is about ensuring that every vote is respected and every citizen's mandate is protected.“When serious questions are raised about electoral transparency, the responsibility of the Election Commission is to provide clear answers and uphold the highest standards of impartiality,” he said.In its statement, the IYC said the effigy-burning was intended to convey its opposition to alleged electoral irregularities and demand accountability from the poll panel.“Through our 'Vote Chori Ki Raasleela' protest, the Indian Youth Congress is sending a clear message that the youth of this country will not allow the sanctity of democracy to be compromised. The burning of the effigy of CEC Gyanesh Kumar represents our anger and our demand for accountability,” Chib said.

The protest followed the launch of the IYC’s digital campaign, Digital Ravan Dahan, which invites citizens to identify what the organisation calls the “10 heads of India's Ravan”.

According to the IYC, the campaign allows people to register their views through its website and is scheduled to culminate in a virtual Ravan Dahan on Tuesday at 7:30 pm.

The IYC has been demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s functioning and the SIR exercise. Opposition parties have also raised concerns about aspects of the electoral roll revision process.The organisation said it would continue its protests and public campaigns until its demands for greater electoral transparency and institutional accountability were addressed.