Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Friday leveled allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of being complicit in what he termed a "massive vote theft" aimed at benefiting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gandhi’s remarks come amid mounting protests by the Opposition’s INDIA bloc against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in Bihar.
The senior Congress leader claimed that the Opposition conducted an independent investigation following recent election outcomes, which allegedly uncovered proof of large-scale manipulation of voter rolls. “We have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft. Most importantly, whoever in the Election Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you,” said Rahul Gandhi.
Without naming anyone, Rahul Gandhi issued a warning to officials within the Election Commission, going so far as to label their actions as "treason." “You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. We will find you wherever you are, even if you are retired,” said the LoP In the Lok Sabha.
He added that the INDIA bloc began its own inquiry after the results of the Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha elections raised serious concerns. “After the results of the Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha elections, we had our suspicions,” Gandhi said. “Those only deepened after the Maharashtra Assembly polls especially when we saw that 1 crore new voters had suddenly been added to the final voter list. That’s when we realised the Election Commission wouldn't act. So, we launched our own six-month investigation. And what we uncovered is nothing short of an atom bomb. Once it explodes, the Election Commission will have no place to hide,” he added.
Members of the INDIA bloc on Friday staged demonstrations in front of Makkar Dawar inside the Parliament complex, demanding an immediate discussion on the SIR process in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The protests follow a unanimous decision by the INDIA bloc on Thursday to intensify their opposition to what they allege is a politically motivated revision of electoral rolls.
Both Houses of Parliament witnessed repeated adjournments as the Opposition intensified its protests demanding a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2 PM, while the Rajya Sabha saw proceedings suspended until noon, and again until 11 AM on Monday, 4 August.
