Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said that ‘Vote-Chori’ (vote theft) poses a serious threat to Indian democracy and demanded the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, calling for an impartial investigation into the process and strict action against those responsible for irregularities. Addressing the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, he pointed out the BJP is manipulating electoral rolls in the name of the Election Commission by adding votes in its favour and deleting those of the Opposition, and claimed that elections in Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana and Maharashtra had been won through ‘Vote-Chori’.

The Chief Minister affirmed the country has reached a stage where the BJP government once chosen by the people is now deciding who could vote, warning that dictatorship had taken control of all four pillars of democracy. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha subsequently passed a resolution against SIR by voice vote, reflecting Punjab’s opposition to what CM Bhagwant Singh Mann declared as ‘Dhakkashahi’ (high handedness) and threats to citizens’ voting rights.

During discussion on motion to protect citizen’s voting rights under ongoing SIR, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab had taken the lead in the country by passing a resolution condemning the SIR exercise and stressed that every eligible citizen must be able to exercise the right to vote without fear of arbitrary exclusion. “The right to vote is not a favour bestowed by any government. It is the foundation of democratic participation, and no eligible citizen should face unnecessary hardship or arbitrary exclusion while establishing their eligibility,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the Constitution envisioned by Baba Sahib Ambedkar guaranteed equality, dignity and political participation to every citizen. He expressed concern over voter deletions affecting particular sections of society and called for complete transparency and an impartial investigation into the electoral roll revision process. “Any exercise that determines who can exercise the right to vote must be transparent, fair and accountable. The protection of every eligible citizen’s voting rights is essential to preserving the foundations of Indian democracy,” he said.

He questioned why objections in the Assembly constituency had reportedly been raised only after protests began and why the Election Commission had now decided to formally record the minutes of its meetings. Referring to reported differences among Election Commissioners over the Commission’s decision-making process, he called for the highest standards of public scrutiny.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also criticised the BJP-led Union Government over the functioning of central investigative agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. He stressed that constitutional and investigative institutions must function independently and without political pressure. “The question before the country is simple: will India remain a democracy where every vote matters, or will we allow a system to emerge in which those in power decide whose voice deserves to be heard?” he asked.

The Chief Minister said the people of India had never given any government the authority to weaken the democratic foundations of the Republic. Warning against the emergence of an “elected dictatorship”, he said governments elected through democratic processes must never weaken the institutions that make free and fair elections possible. “Winning an election does not give anyone a licence to undermine the Constitution. The mandate of the people is a responsibility, not a weapon,” he said.

He said that when citizens began to fear that their names could be removed from electoral rolls or their democratic rights questioned without transparent and fair procedures, the damage extended far beyond an election and struck at the soul of the Republic.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also raised concerns over the Union Government’s approach towards Punjab’s efforts to attract international investment. “I have been working to present Punjab as a preferred investment destination before international business communities, highlighting the state’s industrial potential, skilled workforce and entrepreneurial spirit.”

He said the proposed foreign visit intended to promote Punjab’s investment opportunities had faced obstacles and that subsequent action against him raised questions requiring scrutiny. He also raised concerns about the Customs establishment and the need for transparency and accountability in the functioning of institutions. “Punjab’s economic progress must not be held hostage to political differences. Investment, employment and prosperity are directly linked to the future of our youth. Every effort to attract investment and create opportunities must be encouraged,” he said.

Expressing concern over India’s international economic direction, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann warned that proposed trade arrangements could expose Indian agriculture to external pressure and allow American commercial interests to influence the future of Indian farmers. “Punjab’s farmers have already demonstrated their determination to defend their livelihoods. They will not accept any arrangement that compromises their interests or undermines the future of Indian agriculture,” he said.

The Chief Minister stressed that trade agreements must not become a backdoor route for agricultural policies that farmers had previously rejected after a historic struggle. Referring to the farmers’ movement, he said Punjab’s experience had taught the country that peaceful democratic resistance was essential whenever the rights and livelihoods of ordinary people were threatened. “Farmers, labourers, traders, young people and every other section of society deserve a voice in decisions affecting their future. Any international agreement concerning agriculture must be examined transparently, with Parliament, state governments and farming communities given an opportunity to assess its implications,” he said.

Appealing to the people to raise their voices against injustice, the Chief Minister said silence only emboldened those seeking to weaken the rights of others. He urged citizens to protect the Constitution, nurture democratic values and speak up whenever the rights of the people were threatened. “Silence in the face of injustice only emboldens those who seek to weaken the rights of others. We must all nurture democracy, protect the Constitution and speak up whenever the rights of our people are threatened,” he said.

He said the future of India could not be left to those who believed that political power was more important than the people. He called upon democratic forces to rise above political differences and safeguard the sanctity of the vote, the independence of constitutional institutions and the principles enshrined in the Constitution.

Concluding his remarks, the Chief Minister urged all democratic forces to defend the principles of equality, justice and constitutional freedom. “We owe this responsibility to Baba Sahib Ambedkar, to the freedom fighters who sacrificed everything for an independent India, and to every future generation that deserves to inherit a free, equal and democratic nation,” said CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.