"Wait for verdict of HC": ECI sources on Rahul Gandhi's "cheating" allegation in Karnataka

New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): Hours after Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of indulging in "cheating" during the voter list revision process in a constituency in Karnataka, poll body sources on Thursday said to wait for the verdict of the High Court regarding the issue.
Terming the allegations as "baseless", sources in ECI said, "If an election petition has been filed, then wait for the verdict of the Hon'ble High Court. If not, then why make baseless allegations now?"
Rahul Gandhi severely criticised the poll body over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, warning the opposition would not let them get away with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar.
"I want to send a message to the Election Commission: If you think you are going to get away with it, if your officers think they are going to get away with it, you are mistaken. You are not going to get away with it, because we are going to come for you," the Lok Sabha LoP told reporters outside Parliament, just after the Lok Sabha was adjourned.
He accused the ECI of indulging in "cheating" during the voter list revision process in a Karnataka constituency.
Gandhi claimed to have "100 per cent" proof of the alleged manipulation, which involves adding and deleting voters, but hasn't presented any evidence yet.
"Today, we have 100 per cent proof of the Election Commission allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka. When we decide to show it to you, it is 100 per cent proof. We just looked at one constituency and we found this. I am absolutely convinced that, constituency after constituency, this is the drama. Thousands of new votes, aged 50 or 60, or 65 (are there) in one constituency. Then, voter deletion, people who are way above 18," he said.
The opposition parties, including Congress and the Samajwadi Party, have been protesting against the SIR exercise, alleging that it's an attempt to disenfranchise voters, particularly from marginalised communities. They claim that the process is being used to remove names from the voters' list, which could impact the outcome of upcoming assembly elections.
Reiterating the claim that the poll panel is not fulfilling its duties, the Lok Sabha LoP added, "I said this yesterday too; this is a very serious matter. The Election Commission is not functioning as the Election Commission of India. Today they made some statement; this is complete nonsense. The fact of the matter is that the Election Commission is not doing its job."
Rahul Gandhi, along with other opposition MPs like Akhilesh Yadav and DMK MP TR Baalu, held protests in Parliament premises, raising slogans against the Election Commission and the BJP-led NDA government. The MPs held posters that read "SIR is the murder of democracy" and "Justice, Justice, Justice", demonstrating their strong opposition to the SIR exercise.
The poll body has defended the revision process, stating that it's aimed at ensuring the purity of elections by removing ineligible voters from the rolls. The commission has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, affirming its authority to verify citizenship details in the interest of electoral integrity.
Meanwhile, ECI has pointed out that as per SIR Order at Page 3, Para 7(5), any elector or any recognised political party will get one month time from 1 Aug till 1 Sep to get the names of any eligible voter included, if left out by BLOs/ BLAs or get the names of any voter excluded if wrongly included by BLOs/BLAs.
The ECI questioned its critics and asked if it should allow fake votes to be cast in the names of deceased and migrated voters.
"The Constitution of India is the mother of Indian democracy. So, fearing these things, should the Election Commission, getting misled by some people, pave the way for some to cast fake votes in the name of deceased voters, voters who have migrated permanently, voters who have got their votes registered at two places, fake voters or foreign voters, going against the Constitution, first in Bihar, then in the entire country?" it said.
The Election Commission urged citizens to consider these questions while setting aside their political ideologies. (ANI)