BJP leaders, who cast votes in Delhi, also voted in first phase of Bihar polls: Rahul
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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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
