VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html A Georgia landowner claimed a $23 million tax deduction for a 103-acre conservation easement; an appeals court upheld a valuation of just $480,000 and a 40% penalty after rejecting the property’s proposed quarry value Recent allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar suggest unilateral actions disregarding his colleagues’ views. NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday clarified that the cancellation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s youth outreach events in Uttar Pradesh had nothing to do with the ongoing row over alleged internal differences in the poll body but were necessiated due to various logistical factors.”Adjustments in dates of events is an ongoing process which is necessitated by various factors such as availability of venues, schedules of higher authorities, natural factors etc,” officials said.”There have been many occasions when the electoral literacy conferences had been postponed/dates changed earlier also such as HP, Ladakh, Uttarakhand. Moreover, the decision to postpone these two particular conferences was taken on Sep 21,” they added.Gyanesh Kumar was scheduled to attend the voter awareness programmes in Meerut on Friday and Varanasi on September 28.This comes as a political row erupted after an Indian Express report highlighted differences among the commissioners over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The report said election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised formal objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period against decisions and orders related to electoral-roll processes.Meanwhile, the opposition launched protests across the country demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.The Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress held a protest outside the chief electoral officer’s office in Bhopal, demanding Kumar’s resignation. Protesters raised slogans against the CEC and carried posters reading “arrest Gyanesh Kumar for treason” and “Vote-Chori magic trick exposed”.In Dehradun, Congress workers also staged a protest demanding Kumar’s resignation, with Congress MP Kumari Selja leading the demonstration.In Punjab, Pradesh Congress committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanded Kumar’s dismissal, an FIR against him and his alleged collaborators, and their arrest. He also announced a march to the ECI office in Chandigarh under the leadership of Sachin Pilot.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“The march will begin at 11 am on September 25 from near the RBI Office, Sector 17, Chandigarh, and proceed towards the ECI office,” he said.CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also vowed to launch a nationwide protest from October 2 if Kumar did not resign by Saturday.In a post on X, Dipke said CJP would begin its protest from Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti and subsequently take the agitation to cities across India.“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign by tomorrow, CJP will begin its nationwide protest from Mumbai on 2 October, and take it to cities across India. This Gandhi Jayanti let’s pledge to save democracy,” Dipke wrote.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysMaharashtra School holidayPunjab school holidayTelangana school holidayDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court ‘Meesaya Murkku 2’ Twitter review: Hiphop Tamizha Aadhi wins praise for ‘3 variational roles’ as viewers call the first half weak and the second half ‘a complete blast’ Is your ‘paneer’ really paneer? What FSSAI’s latest proposal could change for you About 43,674 light-up children’s toys sold for around $1 from 2016 to 2026 are being recalled because their button batteries can be accessed without a tool, creating an ingestion and chemical-burn risk Warring questions ED’s election-time action NEW DELHI: Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s timing in carrying out searches in the state, alleging that corruption had taken place in several departments under the “chief minister’s nose”.Warring said alleged corruption in Punjab must be investigated, but questioned why central agencies had become active only ahead of elections.”I have never given a clean chit to any central agency, because central agencies tend to become active only around election time. But yes, the fact remains that within Punjab, not just GMADA [Greater Mohali Area Development Authority]—there are many other departments and ministries where scams on a massive scale have occurred,” Warring told reporters.”Those scams must be thoroughly investigated, and this corruption was taking place right under the chief minister’s nose,” he added.Taking a swipe at those allegedly involved in the irregularities, Warring said people in Punjab were aware of what had happened.”Don’t just take my word for it; as an opposition party chief, I am bound to say this, but ask anyone, ask the common people: it wasn’t some foreign invader like Ahmad Shah Abdali who looted Delhi; the looters were specific individuals whose names are now surfacing,” he further said.Warring said the ED action was welcome but questioned why similar action had not been taken earlier.”All this happened under the chief minister’s watch. Yet, questions also arise regarding the ED: Why have you become active only now?” he said.”It is good [that action is being taken], but during the past five years when Punjab was crying out in protest, you knew that the policies of Delhi were formulated here… that the Delhi policies were mirrored here. Why were you silent back then? What were you waiting for?” he asked.”Were you waiting for Punjab to be plundered? For Punjab to be stripped clean? Were you waiting for Rs 10,000 crore to be stashed away before stepping in? Why didn’t you arrive earlier? And why right before elections?” Warring said.The Congress leader also raised the possibility of a “collusion at the top”, but stressed that this was his own assessment.”Often I am fully convinced that there is collusion at the top. It’s staged—like staging protests where you pretend you’re being victimised, and they respond… but beneath the surface, behind closed doors, there’s collusion,” he said.He also sought answers on cases and FIRs registered earlier, questioning whether those investigations had progressed.”And what happened to the major FIRs and cases filed earlier? You made huge claims back then too,” Warring said.”Corruption has taken place. Corruption has occurred across ministries and right under the chief minister’s nose. But my question remains for the ED: Why this delay? Why did you stand by watching Punjab get looted?” he said.Warring also referred to speculation about an alleged understanding involving the Union home minister and differences within the Aam Aadmi Party.”Some people even speculate that the Home Minister… these are speculations, of course. There are internal rifts within AAP as well, infighting among them… perhaps they want to wrap up those speculations too,” he said.”What the hidden secret is will be revealed gradually. I won’t say it outright today. When I say Home Minister, I mean the Union Home Minister of the country. So, where this loop originates, who is in league with whom, and who wants to frame whom—all of this will become clear in the days to come,” he added.The ED on Tuesday carried out search and survey operations at 26 premises across Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab as part of a money laundering investigation linked to Tirupati Infraprojects Pvt Ltd.The agency also surveyed the GMADA office and the Punjab government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe ED said its investigation found that the promoters of Tirupati Infraprojects also controlled other entities that bought two prime auction sites in Mohali from GMADA. These entities later received substantial financial relief on dues owed to the authority, according to the agency.The agency has estimated the suspected undue gain to the companies and the resulting loss to the exchequer at more than Rs 100 crore.The searches have since turned into a political flashpoint in Punjab. The ruling AAP has accused the Centre of using central agencies against the state government ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. AAP leaders and workers also held a protest outside the GMADA office in Mohali on Thursday.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysMaharashtra School holidayPunjab school holidayTelangana school holidayDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Samantha Ruth Prabhu flaunts baby bump during third-trimester seated corn rows workout with witty caption: ‘Equal parts strong till the very end and please don’t make me get up’ “I got an ₹85-lakh annual package, but this is how much I’ll actually get every month”: Corporate manager breaks down his shocking in-hand salary reality Meet Dr Monish, NEET PG 2026 AIR 1 holder who scored 641 out of 720; what we know about his achievement A Norfolk seal was rescued with 4 kilograms of fishing debris wrapped around her neck; the material had cut a 3-inch-deep wound and she now faces months of rehabilitation if she survives 23 ITBP Himveers have scaled Uttarakhand’s 7,355 metre Mt Abi Gamin. NEW DELHI: 23 ITBP personnel conquered the 7,355-metre Mt Abi Gamin on the Indo-Tibet frontier in Uttarakhand, reaching its summit on September 16 and unfurling the Tricolour at an altitude of about 24,131 feet.Led by deputy commandant Parikshit Shah, the team began its expedition from ITBP headquarters in New Delhi on August 7. The climb took weeks of preparation, acclimatisation and movement through the difficult terrain of the Garhwal Himalayas.The expedition was part of the Force Level Mountaineering Expedition 2026 and was flagged off by ITBP director general Shatrujeet Kapur.At more than 7,000 metres, Abi Gamin presents a combination of thin air, freezing temperatures, snow and glacier terrain. Weather conditions can also change rapidly at such heights.The ITBP said the expedition demonstrated the force’s mountaineering skills, determination and team spirit. After weeks on the mountain, the team finally reached the summit on September 16.The official ITBP account marked the achievement with the words, “Himveers summit Mt Abi Gamin!”, while highlighting the 23-member team’s mountaineering skills, determination and team spirit. DG Shatrujeet Kapur also congratulated the expedition members.A mountain near the frontierMt Abi Gamin, also known as Ibi Gamin, is located in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is close to Mt Kamet, with its summit located on the India-Tibet frontier and its northern slopes extending towards Tibet.The mountain is roughly 2 km northeast of Kamet and forms part of the wider Kamet massif.Abi Gamin has a long history of mountaineering. An Anglo-Swiss expedition made the first successful ascent in 1950 after approaching the mountain from the Tibetan side through Mana Pass. Indian mountaineers also successfully climbed it in the 1950s, including an expedition led by Nandu Jayal in 1953.Its location adds significance to the ITBP expedition, as the force has personnel operating regularly in high-altitude Himalayan areas.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe challenge at more than 24,000 feet goes beyond the steepness of the mountain. Oxygen levels are much lower than at sea level, while extreme cold, snow, glaciers and sudden weather changes can make movement dangerous.The route around Abi Gamin has historically involved snow and glacier sections, with the mountain linked to nearby Kamet through Meade’s Col. Earlier expeditions have reported difficult ice sections and extremely cold conditions at high camps.Such conditions make acclimatisation, careful planning and experience essential for any expedition to the summit.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRajeev SinghRajeev Singh is a Digital Content Producer with The Times of India. He covers politics, policies, defence, and conflicts for readers curious to know their implications. He loves digging into legal maxims and political trivia. On off days, when not turning pages or learning русский, he lives in the reverie of “what ifs” and “how abouts.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysMaharashtra School holidayPunjab school holidayTelangana school holidayDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Sep 25, 2026, 14:57 IST ‘The Paradise’ actor Remo Raheem reveals his 5–7 minute scene was cut from Nani and Srikanth Odela’s film: If you keep looking for logic, no film will satisfy you’ Baby boy names that mean “he who questions” or “curious” Tanzania planted 100,000 native trees along an elephant corridor; the 1,000 animals now have a route from savanna to rainforest Patriot production in Europe: Germany seeks US nod to make PAC-3 missiles Amit Shah on Brahmos NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday said the manufacturing of defence equipment in Uttar Pradesh was a sign of the transformation taking place in the state and across India, claiming that BrahMos missiles manufactured in UP were “giving Pakistan sleepless nights”.Addressing the UP International Trade Show 2026 in Greater Noida, Shah said investments in defence manufacturing were flowing into all six nodes of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor — Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Lucknow, Agra, Aligarh and Kanpur.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“Those with a jaundiced view cannot bear to see India’s progress. Under PM Modi’s leadership, we have signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with many countries… these agreements have exponentially boosted our industries’ export potential, and we have sustained our growth despite facing various adversities,” Shah said.“Today, the BrahMos missiles manufactured in UP give Pakistan sleepless nights; this is a prime indicator of the transformation taking place. Similarly, the AK-203 assault rifles made in Amethi are giving sleepless nights to Naxalites and terrorists alike,” he added.Shah also highlighted the government’s emphasis on boosting domestic defence production and manufacturing, linking the growth of the sector to India’s broader economic and industrial expansion.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPriyanka JaiswalPriyanka Jaiswal has four years of experience in digital journalism, news agency reporting and video production. Currently with The Times of India, she covers public policy, politics and global affairs. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories that put people at the heart of an issue, spark awareness , and contribute to meaningful conversations.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysMaharashtra School holidayPunjab school holidayTelangana school holidayDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Sep 25, 2026, 14:27 IST India draws record $94.5 billion FDI in FY26; total inflow crosses $843 billion Taylor Swift releases ‘The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore’; calls Travis Kelce the ‘Love of my life’, disses Joe Jonas in ‘Patient Zero’ Why do hotels choose white sheets? The psychology and history behind the hospitality standard ‘Dead mindset cannot see vibrancy’: Amit Shah hits back at Rahul’s ‘dead economy’ remark CEA flags 3 ‘near term’ headwinds for Indian economy: US ties, energy prices & absence of AI play Dhanush begins ‘D56’ shoot with grand pooja at Maranadu Karuppanasamy temple in Sivaganga; fans gather in large numbers as actor says ‘go home safely’ amid camera dispute The Science Behind Train Wheels: Why Aren’t They Perfectly Round? | How AI powered autonomous drones are reshaping aerial combat India loses 6.2 million LPG customers in months, connections drop from 333.9 million to 327.7 million, reversing a decade of growth as Iran war squeezes Gulf supplies and oil firms halt new connections Karthik Subbaraj calls ‘Dorothy’ his ‘most emotional story’; says the film changed him as person and filmmaker Taapsee Pannu reveals the one thing that has kept her marriage with Mathias Boe strong for 13 years: ‘Love comes after that’ A female body part never reached books for a century because scientists thought it was useless; now researchers say it is crucial for ovary function Western toilet promised on IRCTC portal but not provided; consumer court orders Rs 20,000 compensation Four artists bought Nina Simone’s childhood home for $95,000, spent nearly $850,000 restoring it Water cannons used on Congress protesters in Chandigarh, Patna NEW DELHI: Congress held protests across several states on Friday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Police used water cannons to disperse protesters in Chandigarh and Patna during the demonstrations.Security personnel were also deployed outside the Election Commission office in New Delhi ahead of a Delhi Congress demonstration over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Indian Youth Congress was also scheduled to march from Raisina Road to Jantar Mantar.The protests follow an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders related to the SIR process. The report said their concerns included voter registration, deletion and restoration of names and access to electoral-roll databases.Protests spread across statesThe Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress held a protest outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bhopal on Thursday, demanding Kumar’s resignation. Protesters raised slogans against the CEC and carried posters reading “arrest Gyanesh Kumar for treason” and “Vote-Chori magic trick exposed”.In Dehradun, Congress workers also staged a protest demanding Kumar’s resignation, with Congress MP Kumari Selja leading the demonstration.In Punjab, Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring demanded Kumar’s dismissal, an FIR against him and his alleged collaborators, and their arrest. He also announced a march to the ECI office in Chandigarh under the leadership of Sachin Pilot.In Karnataka, the Pradesh Congress Committee filed a police complaint seeking action against Kumar and BJP MLA Abhay Patil over alleged violations of voting rights and alleged attempts to manipulate electoral rolls. Congress alleged that Patil had sought deletion of eligible voters’ names and sought penal action against Kumar over alleged arbitrary deletions.Congress workers in Kolkata, West Bengal also staged a protest demanding the resignation of Kumar.CJP threatens nationwide protestsCJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday said his organisation would launch nationwide protests from October 2 if Kumar did not resign by Saturday.In a post on X, Dipke said CJP would begin its protest from Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti and subsequently take the agitation to cities across India.“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign by tomorrow, CJP will begin its nationwide protest from Mumbai on 2 October, and take it to cities across India. This Gandhi Jayanti let’s pledge to save democracy,” Dipke wrote.The announcement came a day after Dipke demanded Kumar’s resignation and threatened a “Jantar Mantar 2.0” agitation if his demand was not met.Youth Congress launches online petitionThe Indian Youth Congress on Thursday launched a nationwide online citizens’ petition titled “Gyanesh, It’s Done Bro”, seeking action against Kumar and urging citizens, particularly young people, to participate in a campaign for electoral transparency and accountability.The IYC has demanded Kumar’s removal as CEC, along with his arrest and prosecution. It has also sought a comprehensive investigation into electoral-roll processes, the alleged BJP connection raised by the campaign, and the release of electoral records and internal objections.Opposition plans removal motionOpposition parties are also preparing to move a motion seeking Kumar’s removal in both Houses of Parliament, with Congress reaching out to other opposition parties, party sources said. The notice is expected to be submitted in the coming days. A similar move is being prepared as the political dispute over the ECI and SIR continues.Rahul Gandhi steps up allegationsCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged with “100 per cent certainty” that elections in India, including the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and several Assembly contests, had been “rigged”. He demanded Kumar’s resignation and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were at the top of a conspiracy and would face investigation.“The first thing we are saying is Mr. Gyanesh Kumar must resign immediately… This thing that you have done is an act against the Indian nation… A person who attacks the vote, who fundamentally destroys India’s democratic institution, is nothing other than a ‘Desh Drohi’,” Gandhi said.He also said the CEC should “turn Approver”.In Raipur, All India Adivasi Congress president Vikrant Bhuria defended Gandhi’s allegations of “vote theft”, saying they were based on facts.“Whatever Rahul Gandhi says is based on facts, and history bears witness that every claim he has made has eventually been proven true. We had been campaigning for quite some time, under his leadership, against vote theft, highlighting that votes were being stolen, elections were being rigged, names were being deleted from voter lists, and the names of ineligible people were being added,” Bhuria told ANI.“Instances were found where thousands of voters were registered at a single address. He substantiated these claims with facts, yet the Election Commission failed to take cognizance of them,” he added.Priyanka backs Rahul’s allegationsCongress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra defended Rahul Gandhi’s allegations and rejected the BJP’s response to the controversy.“I’m sorry, that’s a very stale and weak story. There are facts, there is evidence. It is there for the whole country to see. My brother (Rahul Gandhi) has shown it in many different press conferences. He has put the evidence forward. Now it is very clear. 13 crore voters have been deleted. This is a lame excuse, and the BJP should stop making lame excuses. If they are meddling with our elections and if their leadership is making the Election Commission do this, then it is an act of treason and they should be aware of it…They are doing an illegal act. How many years has it been that they have been rigging elections? Naturally, they are so overconfident all the time…”Asked whether Congress was planning a protest, she said, “There is a CWC meeting, I think, for which I am having to go back. So they will decide on that meeting and suppose what the course of action will be.”ECI rejects claims of internal dissentThe Election Commission has rejected the assertion that objections raised by Sandhu and Joshi represented structural or institutional dissent over final decisions. The poll panel has said operational queries, internal feedback and administrative suggestions raised during the drafting process are part of the normal functioning of a multi-member constitutional body. It has maintained that all final decisions, including those related to SIR, were unanimous.The ECI has also said ECINet is a secure, decentralised digital platform operated under the Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951. According to the poll panel, statutory duties on the platform are carried out by designated field officers, including BLOs, AEROs, EROs, DEOs and CEOs, using unique IDs and secure credentials.Chirag Paswan asks ECI to clarifyUnion minister Chirag Paswan said that if questions are being raised about the Election Commission, an independent constitutional body, the responsibility lies with the CEC to present his position clearly.“If questions are being raised on Election Commission, which is an independent constitutional body, responsibility lies with CEC to present his stance clearly. It is problematic if people begin to doubt electoral process itself. EC needs to present its stance, not to Rahul Gandhi, but to public,” Paswan said.The controversy over the SIR exercise and the ECI’s internal functioning is expected to be taken up at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29 in New Delhi.SC plea challenges Gyanesh KumarA plea filed in the Supreme Court has challenged alleged unilateral decisions taken by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in connection with the Election Commission’s electoral-roll revision exercise, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe petitioner has sought an SIT investigation into the alleged deletion of around 13 crore voters from electoral rolls. The plea also seeks a declaration that decisions allegedly taken without the concurrence of the other two Election Commissioners were illegal.It has further sought restoration of the original Form 6 used for voter registration and prosecution of Gyanesh Kumar, Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg and ECI IT head Seema Khanna for alleged violations of their duties under the Representation of the People Act.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against OfficialsAnother Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces OnlineRahul Gandhi Demands Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Alleges ‘Vote Chori’ After ECI Rift Emerges’Justice Must Be Served’: Ladakh Marks One Year Since Deadly Leh Violence | WatchWhen The Umpires Clash: 10 Questions At The Heart Of The Election Commission-SIR Row123Hot PicksStock Market TodayBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysMaharashtra School holidayPunjab school holidayTelangana school holidayDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Updated: Sep 25, 2026, 13:58 IST Farah Khan reacts to Arjun Kapoor’s request for ‘Main Hoon Na’ sequel with Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ iconic dialogue: ‘If you desire something with all your heart…’ Psychology says the “cool” parent who negotiates every boundary may leave children unprepared for one adult challenge Amazon Prime refund eligibility expanded to more customers; company to start giving up to $200 from October 1; new changes remove need to file claims About 51,000 battery packs used inside reclining chairs are being recalled after reports of overheating, smoking and igniting; the packs were sold on Amazon for about $105 for more than three years Updated: Sep 25, 2026, 13:35 IST ‘He was abusing him nonstop’: Dhruv Jurel reveals what triggered Yashavi Jaiswal’s clash with Asitha Fernando ‘Not a government issue’: FM Sitharaman explains where UPI MDR charge goes ‘Hanuman Ansh’ box office collection Day 50 [LIVE]: Vishal Chaturvedi and Shobhinaw Satyaa’s spiritual biopic on Neem Kaorli Baba continues its extraordinary theatrical run, targets Rs 290 crore domestic net milestone The US has returned 36 ancient Syrian artifacts worth more than $5 million; 13 were seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Palmyra stone relief, 14 Roman mosaics were among the objects sent home Plea filed in SC against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over SIR decisions, seeks SIT inquiry Oregon feared a famous 92-foot waterfall on private land could be sold to a new owner; the state has now approved a $2 million purchase that will permanently protect Abiqua Falls and open public access Tennis icon Sania Mirza to lead Niva Bupa’s ‘Walk for Healthy Cities’ on September 27 | India News Sep 25, 2026, 13:10 IST Gold price prediction: Is gold ripe for buy on dips strategy? Check September 25, 2026 outlook ‘Love in Disguise’: Seol In Ah, Im Siwan’s K-drama brings murder mystery and romance; cast and plot details INSIDE; everything to know Colorado researchers grew the world’s most expensive spice on rooftop solar panels; harvested twice the output and generated $60,000 in return while producing electricity