EC should respond to Rahul Gandhi with facts, not planted news: AAP's Saurabh Bhardwaj
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
New Delhi: After the Election Commission asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either sign a declaration or apologise for his "absurd" allegations, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said the poll body should respond with facts.Speaking to ANI, the AAP leader accused the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of "planting news" based on sources."...Gyanesh Kumar ji should be ashamed. Can the Election Commission plant news quoting sources? If he has any self-respect left, then he should take action against those who ran the information about Rahul Gandhi on sources.... Before the Delhi election, we had told EC about voter list manipulation...But what happened? Where was Rahul Gandhi when we had raised this issue before him? At the time, he should have raised his voice. When he did this, he didn't fulfil his responsibility... The Election Commission should respond to him with facts..." Bhardwaj told ANI.This comes after the Election Commission of India (ECI) asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to sign the declaration by the Chief Electoral Officers of Maharashtra and Karnataka or apologise for his "absurd" allegations, according to sources.At a press conference on August 7, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency."Citing internal analysis, Gandhi said the Congress expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 1,00,250 votes.Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes."Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur...All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 6,58,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 1,15,586 and BJP polls 2,29,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said."We found 1,00,250 votes stolen. Stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, on a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Mallikarjun Kharge to host INDIA bloc leaders for dinner on Monday amid ‘voter fraud' allegations, SIR row
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will host a dinner for INDIA bloc MPs on Monday, amid tensions over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Top INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, TMC's Derek O'Brien and DMK MP Kanimozhi along with other leaders staging a protest at the Parliament against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.(PTI file) The move follows a recent show of unity when top INDIA bloc leaders dined at Rahul Gandhi's residence, pledging to oppose the electoral rolls' revision in Bihar and what they called the BJP-Election Commission's 'vote chori model'. On August 11, INDIA bloc MPs plan to march from Parliament to the Election Commission. Since the start of the Monsoon Session, both Houses of Parliament have witnessed protests over the SIR. Earlier, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's presentation on 'vote theft,' calling it well-researched and well-documented, and said it was now up to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to act on it. Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur, Pawar acknowledged that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi should have been more vigilant before the Maharashtra elections. 'We should have looked into it earlier and been careful,' he said. Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP, EC of 'vote chori' On Friday, INDIA bloc leaders met at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's residence, for a dinner to discuss their strategy on the SIR in Bihar. During the meeting, Gandhi delivered a presentation on 'vote chori being done,' alleging that the BJP, in collusion with the Election Commission, was 'rigging' the elections. Opposition parties have been demanding a debate on the SIR exercise since the monsoon session of Parliament, claiming it will lead to widespread disenfranchisement. Gandhi detailed what he called the BJP's 'vote chori model' and explained the entire 'game' of how the party and the Election Commission were allegedly manipulating polls. In a post on X, the Congress said: 'A united front against electoral manipulation! We are committed to protecting democracy and will save it from being destroyed at all costs.' Earlier the same day, Gandhi held a press conference where he presented evidence, describing the alleged malpractice as a 'huge criminal fraud' carried out through 'collusion' between the BJP and the Election Commission. Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said, 'The way opposition parties have been united in Parliament in national interest and have cornered the government, the same unity was visible in the meeting as well.' The Election Commission of India (ECI) later responded, saying: 'Rahul Gandhi should either give a Declaration as per rules or apologise to the country for his false allegations.' Gogoi said that leaders from around 24 parties attended, including Sharad Pawar, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Tejashwi Yadav, and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah. He described the gathering as having 'an atmosphere of dialogue, friendship and harmony.' He added, 'The manner in which we questioned the Govt in Parliament in public interest and national interest, in a united manner, we asked them important questions – we experienced the same atmosphere… He addressed a press conference on the issues of fake voters, bogus voting. He spoke on the same with evidence. Leaders of various political parties had questions about it. Dialogue was held over the same. Pieces of evidence that Rahul Gandhi presented before everyone today (August 8) were presented to the leaders too.' (With ANI, PTI inputs)
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘A clean voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections': Rahul Gandhi
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday doubled down on his claims of "vote chori" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and noted that a "clean" voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections. "Vote Chori is an attack on the foundational idea of 'one man, one vote'," Rahul Gandhi said on X. (File/Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo) The Congress MP linked his stand to a fight to "protect" democracy. "Vote Chori is an attack on the foundational idea of 'one man, one vote'. A clean voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections. Our demand from the EC is clear - be transparent and release digital voter rolls so that people and parties can audit them. This fight is to protect our democracy," the Congress MP posted on X. Meanwhile, the Congress party said that it will hold a meeting of its general secretaries, in-charges, and frontal organisation heads on August 11 to discuss a nationwide campaign against "voter list manipulation and election fraud. "The party is also opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, along with other partners of the INDIA bloc."Just as Bapu gave us the 'Do or Die' call during the Quit India movement, we today must embark upon a similar do-or-die mission to save Indian democracy. To discuss the party's further nationwide campaign against voter list manipulation and election fraud, as exposed by LOP Sh. @RahulGandhi ji, a meeting of AICC General Secretaries, In-charges, and Frontal Organisation Heads will be held on 11th August at 4:30 PM at 24 Akbar Road, presided over by INC President Sh. Mallikarjun @kharge ji," Congress general secretary KC Venugopal wrote in a post on X on Friday. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 100,250 votes. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur... All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 658,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 115,586 and BJP polls 229,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said. "We found 100,250 votes stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, there is no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday has again asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either give a declaration as per the rules or apologise to the country for his "false" allegations regarding the voter lists. "Rahul Gandhi should either give a Declaration as per rules or apologise to the country for his false allegations," ECI said in a statement.
India.com
10 minutes ago
- India.com
Rahul Gandhi Acts Like Madman, Wants Votes Of Bangladeshi Infiltrators, Says Giriraj Singh
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accusing him of disrespecting the Constitution and misleading the public with baseless allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI). Responding to Rahul Gandhi's recent claims that the ECI manipulated the voter list in favour of the ruling party, Singh said the Congress leader appeared 'ignorant of the Constitution' and was behaving 'like a madman'. 'Rahul Gandhi seems ignorant of the Constitution and acts like a madman. They should respect the Constitution. Just say it straight: you want a board of Bangladeshi infiltrators," Singh said. He further accused the opposition of hypocrisy and misinformation: 'So many people who were alive were declared dead, or those who deserved to be on the list were removed. Say clearly that you want the votes of Bangladeshi infiltrators. Is it right to allow illegal immigrants the right to vote?' He added, 'If you have the strength, submit the list from your party in Bihar. Say how many were wrongly removed. Some people were declared dead, and some eligible names were removed. You won't submit the list but will engage in baseless politics. You think repeating lies makes them true? Lies remain lies.' Giriraj Singh also revealed that his own name was struck off from one location due to duplication, saying, 'My name was there at two places. One was removed. Many voter names were cleaned up, not unfairly deleted.' The Minister also lashed out at the Congress over its scepticism regarding Operation Sindoor, where Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has confirmed the downing of five Pakistani fighter jets and a surveillance aircraft in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. 'They have no trust in the country's army; the generals and top leaders have spoken out. They don't trust Modi ji but trust Pakistan instead. Congress should sink and perish; it's their habit. Such people are anti-national,' he said. His remarks come after the Air Chief revealed satellite imagery and intelligence confirming the IAF's successful operation on May 7 and May 10, targeting Pakistan's terror infrastructure and air assets. Operation Sindoor has since become a flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the opposition, with the former accusing the latter of demoralising the Armed Forces by demanding proof of military actions.
