Rahul Gandhi alleges Election Commission 'compromised' in US; BJP responds sharply
Boston / New Delhi: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, while addressing an event in Boston, USA, alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is "compromised" and raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Citing figures from the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Gandhi claimed that more people had reportedly voted than the total number of adult citizens in the state. He further questioned the voting data, stating, “The Election Commission gave us a voting figure for 5:30 PM and between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM, 65 lakh voters voted. This is physically impossible. For a person to vote, it takes approximately 3 minutes. If you do the math, this would mean lines of voters extending till 2 AM—but such queues were never seen.”
He added that when the Congress party requested videography records to verify the voting data, the ECI not only denied the request but subsequently changed the law to restrict access to such footage.
The BJP responded strongly to Gandhi’s remarks. Party spokesperson CR Kesavan accused him of launching another "Bharat Badnam Yatra" and tarnishing India’s institutions abroad. “Rahul Gandhi, who is once again undermining India’s democracy on foreign soil, is peddling lies and falsehoods. He attacks our Election Commission in America at a time when global leaders, including former US President Donald Trump, have praised India’s electoral system,” Kesavan said.
Kesavan further criticized Gandhi for attempting to damage the credibility of Indian institutions while overseas, suggesting that the Congress leader lacks an understanding of the robustness of the country’s democratic framework.
VIDEO | Here's what BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan (@crkesavan) said on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Boston on Election Commission of India.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2025
"Rahul Gandhi who is on another 'Bharat Badnam Yatra', 'India Abuse Yatra' on foreign soil has once again, deplorably attacked… pic.twitter.com/d65oBjICKN
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Three more arrested in connection with murder of Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru
Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 14 (PTI): The Mangaluru City Crime Branch has arrested three men in connection with the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Azaruddin alias Azar alias Ajju (29), Abdul Khader alias Noufal (24) and Vamanjoor Noushad alias Chotte Noushad (39), were arrested during the last two days, they said.
With the fresh arrests, a total of 11 people have been arrested in connection with the murder so far, police said.
According to a police statement, Azaruddin had previously been booked in three theft cases registered at Panambur, Suratkal, and Mulki police stations. He allegedly provided information about Shetty's movements to the other accused, aiding in the murder.
Khader is said to have assisted the accused during their escape in a car after the murder was committed.
Noushad is accused of having conspired with the others and directly participated in the crime. He has six previous criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder, and robbery conspiracy, registered at various police stations in Dakshina Kannada, police said.
Azaruddin has been remanded in judicial custody, while Khader and Noushad have been taken into police custody for seven days for further investigation.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to trace other accused involved in the case.
Shetty, a known rowdy sheeter and Hindutva activist, was murdered by a group on May 1 within the Bajpe police station limits in Mangaluru City.
