Banka/Bhagalpur (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that BJP leaders, who had exercised their franchise in Delhi, also cast votes in the first phase of the Bihar assembly polls.

Gandhi, addressing election rallies in Banka and Bhagalpur, also asserted that the Congress produced evidence of “vote chori” (vote theft) in the Haryana polls, and the Election Commission cannot deny the charges.

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha had on Wednesday alleged that the Haryana assembly polls last year were "stolen", citing electoral list data to claim that 25 lakh entries were fake and the Election Commission colluded with the BJP to ensure the party's victory.

“Many BJP leaders voted in Bihar yesterday, and the same leaders had also voted in the Delhi elections. On one hand, the BJP leaders are being allowed to cast more than one vote, and on the other.... Names of those who voted for the Congress are being deleted,” the former Congress president claimed.

He, however, did not elaborate further or mention anybody by name.

“Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have been stealing votes for many years. Earlier, we didn't have any evidence, but now we have all the evidence backed by data. And that is why I say, there is a government of thieves in Haryana,” he asserted.

“Out of the 2 crore voters in Haryana, 29 lakh electors are fake... The BJP indulged in ‘vote chori’ in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana, and now they are trying to repeat it in Bihar. But, I am certain the people of Bihar will not allow this to happen in their state,” Gandhi said.

He also accused the NDA government of encouraging the youth to make social media reels to “divert attention from pressing issues”.

“Reels are the addiction of the 21st century, which is distracting the youth so that they cannot ask questions on issues like unemployment, education and health,” Gandhi said.

At the Bhagalpur rally, the Rae Bareli MP alleged that farmers, labourers and weavers in Bihar neither get loans from banks, nor is their debt waived.

The BJP-led government, however, always waives loans of certain corporates, Gandhi claimed.

He alleged that land is given away to big corporates at throwaway prices in the state.

Gandhi also asserted that TV channels get paid by the BJP to show the Prime Minister’s face 24 hours.

“The media is being controlled by the BJP... Whatever we say, you can see that on social media... But, not on TV channels. Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and the EC stole the Haryana polls, and we have the evidence in black and white... I can say with full confidence that the Haryana government is 'Chori ki Sarkar' (government formed through theft),” he claimed.

Gandhi said only the rich and sons of corporate leaders can dream big in the country in today’s era.

“Take for example, Amit Shah's son; he doesn't know how to hold a cricket bat, but he controls cricket...,” he asserted.

The Congress leader also said a change is imminent in Bihar after the assembly polls.

“The government will change. Bihar will change. And, these changes will be recorded in Bihar's history like a golden page, one that took it out of unemployment, migration, poverty, and rule by goons and set it on the path of development,” he said.

Gandhi said the opposition INDIA bloc, if voted to power, will be a government of every citizen of Bihar.

“The ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government will be the voice of entire Bihar,” he said.

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Latur (PTI): A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an 18-year-old man in Latur, leading to the arrest of the main accused and owners of two cafes where the crime occurred on December 4, police said on Saturday.

Police traced the girl within hours of registering the complaint. The accused, identified as Rihan Gulab Shaikh, was arrested based on the girl's complaint. Two others are owners of two cafes where the crime occurred, police said.

 

Police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), POCSO Act, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, an official said.