Rahul Gandhi claims 'vote chori' in Bihar polls; says CEC, 2 election commissioners main culprits
New Delhi (PTI): Claiming that there were reports from Bihar strengthening the evidence of "vote chori", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the main culprits in this "murder of democracy" are the chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners who are committing the "biggest treachery against the Constitution".
Gandhi also alleged that many BJP leaders and workers who voted in elections in other states are also voting in Bihar.
He said those who were given the responsibility to protect the right to vote have become partners in "stealing" people's future.
In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "My young and Gen Z friends of India, yesterday, I demonstrated with evidence how the government in Haryana was stolen through vote chori, and the public opinion of an entire state was taken away."
"A few days ago, I also conducted a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar to raise awareness about the widespread manipulation of voter lists through SIR. Today, news and videos coming from every corner of Bihar are further strengthening the evidence of vote chori," he said.
Lakhs of voters have already been removed from the voter list, and now people are being prevented from voting at polling stations, he claimed.
"Remember, a government formed through vote theft never works in the interests of youth, Gen Z, and the general public," the former Congress president said.
"...the main culprits in this murder of your democracy are: Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. These are the top officials of the Election Commission, yet they are the ones committing the biggest treachery against the Constitution and democracy," Gandhi alleged.
Those who were given the responsibility to protect the right to vote have become partners in "stealing your future", Gandhi said in his message to the people and the Gen Z.
His remarks came over Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's comments on Thursday, alleging that the NDA was "preparing to steal" the assembly polls in Bihar, "just like they did in Haryana".
Addressing back-to-back public rallies in Sitamarhi, East Champaran and Madhubani districts, the Congress general secretary alleged that the Election Commission (EC) was "colluding with the government to weaken our Constitution and democratic rights".
"Just like they stole the entire election in Haryana, they are preparing to do the same in Bihar by deleting 65 lakh votes from the rolls," she said.
On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, at a press conference here, had alleged that the Haryana assembly polls last year were "stolen". Citing electoral list data, he had claimed that 25 lakh entries were fake and the EC colluded with the BJP to ensure the party's victory.
While the first phase of polling for the Bihar Assembly polls took place on Thursday, the second and final one would be held on November 11 with the counting of votes for the 243-member Assembly scheduled for November 14.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
