Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc, including several senior Congress leaders, staged a protest outside Parliament on Tuesday, highlighting alleged "vote chori" and Bihar SIR. As a symbolic gesture, many leaders wore white T-shirts emblazoned with the face of a woman named Minta Devi, a 124-year-old, whose name recently came to the fore following accusations of voter fraud.
Among those participating in the protest were Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Gaurav Gogoi, and other prominent leaders such as Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The MPs gathered in front of the Parliament gates, demanding accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI) over what they allege is a “fake voter list”.
The controversy centres on the case of Minta Devi, listed in the recently released draft voter rolls in Bihar as being 124 years old, a full nine years older than the world’s oldest verified living person, Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom, who is 115 years old, according to the Guinness World Records.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi first brought the matter to public attention during a press conference on August 7. He underscored the names of Minta Devi, along with two other women voters, all reportedly over the age of 100. Minta Devi was shown as a registered voter in the Daraundha Assembly constituency.
This comes a day after a dramatic protest that unfolded on Monday where Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and several INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police while attempting to march from Parliament to the Election Commission’s office.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticised the ECI’s role in the voter roll revision process, stating, “The level of ECI's failure can be understood. The ECI under Rajiv Kumar and Gyanesh Kumar has become a department of the BJP. They have completely failed. For example, Minta Devi is a first-time voter, but she is listed as 124 years old.” He added, “We want a discussion on this subject. There is a fake voter list; there are fake names. We want to expose this. As a mark of protest, we are wearing this T-shirt.”
The Opposition has demanded an immediate explanation from the Election Commission and a debate in Parliament on the alleged discrepancies in the voter registration process. Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament have been disrupted over the issue for several days now.
