During a Save Democracy Rally organized in Fairfax, Virginia on April 28, the Chapter underscored the urgent need for Indian citizens to make informed choices in the Lok Sabha elections to uphold democracy, secularism, and pluralism in India, according to a media release.

The DC Chapter of the overseas wing of India’s main opposition party also reminded that India can become strong, and achieve real progress and development can be achieved, only if free and fair elections are conducted, the judiciary’s independence is maintained, and free speech and religious freedom are protected.

The Chapter urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to expand actual cross-verification of vote counts in electronic voting machines with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) paper slips to all polling stations in India to eliminate the possibility of foul play, the release stated.

It also called upon the ECI to ensure that no candidate faces intimidation or undue influence to withdraw from the elections, and take meaningful steps to strictly curtail the influence of money power.

Indian Overseas Congress Washington DC Chapter President Johnson Myalil presided over the rally. Mohammed Tahir, Vijay Narula, Pratap Singh, Vikas Choudhary, Fasiuddin, Kaleem Kawaja, Sridhar Pupally, and Iqbal Ismailwalla spoke at the event.

The rally expressed hope that the people of India would demonstrate their commitment to protecting democracy, secularism, and pluralism by electing candidates of Indian National Congress and its allies in the parliamentary elections thereby restoring India’s standing among the world’s democracies.