"EC should answer all questions": Bhupesh Baghel slams poll body for issuing notices to Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) must answer questions regarding alleged "vote theft" that are being raised by the Leader of Opposition (LoP), Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
He criticised the Election Commission for asking Rahul Gandhi to issue an apology or substantiate his claims by signing an oath under its rules.
"What did the Election Commission say? Apologise to the country. The question is, has the Election Commission itself become the country?" Baghel told ANI, adding that they should provide answers instead of issuing notices.
"The Election Commission is a constitutional institution. Rahul Gandhi has raised questions about the voter list and voting in front of the country. The questions raised by Rahul Gandhi should be answered: Why are there fake voters? How many times is a single voter voting? There are 80 to 250 voters in a single household. The Election Commission should answer all these questions," the Congress leader said.
His remarks came as the opposition MPs were detained by the Delhi police this morning for protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, following allegations of "vote theft," after they were denied permission to march to the EC office.
The allegations levelled by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have sparked massive political controversy across the country, with the ruling side alleging that it was an attempt to create "anarchy" and further charging them of "working" against the constitution.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station.
While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list."
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward).
Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared".
This development came as the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, granting an appointment for interaction at noon today.
"EC has granted an appointment for an interaction at noon today. It is requested that, due to the limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons may kindly be intimated," the letter read.
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.
The Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi "still has time" to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of "vote theft" or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the poll body. (ANI)