Responding to Rahul Gandhi's allegations of vote theft and voter list irregularities, the Election Commission stated that using such words without evidence impacts democracy. The Commission appealed for evidence to be presented, and Rahul announced a Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar starting August 17.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Thursday responded to allegations made by Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, regarding vote theft and irregularities in the voter list. The Commission explicitly stated that using words like "vote theft" is not only akin to fabricating a false narrative but also casts doubt on the integrity of millions of honest voters and election officials. The Commission appealed to Rahul Gandhi to submit any evidence of irregularities or malpractice directly to the Commission via affidavit.
Election Commission Issues Clear Directives
In its statement, the Election Commission said that the rule of "one person-one vote" has been in effect in India since the first general election (1951-52), and this law is the backbone of the country's democratic process. The Commission stated, "If anyone has proof that a person has cast two or more votes, it is not appropriate to call crores of voters 'thieves' without any evidence. Such allegations create unnecessary doubts about Indian democracy and the election process."
The Commission emphasized that simply making allegations is not enough. 'Using dirty words like vote theft is like fabricating a false story, and it attacks the hard work and honesty of crores of voters and lakhs of election workers. If anyone finds any facts, it is necessary to present them to the Commission.'
Allegation of Stealing One Lakh Votes
In fact, Rahul Gandhi recently alleged in a press conference that more than one lakh votes were stolen in the Mahadevapura assembly constituency of the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said that this was the reason why the Congress candidate lost. Rahul also claimed that the Election Commission's data confirms this irregularity.
However, the Election Commission had sought evidence from Rahul Gandhi for his claims. The Commission said that instead of making allegations, he would have to submit an affidavit with written evidence.
Rahul Rejects Commission's Demand
Rahul Gandhi refused to file the affidavit demanded by the Commission. He said that the Election Commission's data is available on its website and that he has taken this data as public information. He alleged that the Commission is trying to divert attention from the issue. Rahul said, "I don't need to sign that data. We will continue to raise this issue to protect democracy and the constitution."
Congress's Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi announced that the Congress will take out a 'Voter Rights Yatra' in Bihar from August 17. This yatra will be specifically against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that took place in Bihar. He described it as a fight to protect democracy and the constitution. Rahul appealed to the people to join this movement and raise their voice for the protection of their right to vote.
The objective of this yatra is stated to be to raise awareness about voter rights and ensure transparency in the election process. The Congress says that this campaign is a symbol of the fight against any kind of irregularities or errors in the voter list.
