Rahul Gandhi's presser exposed India's biggest electoral fraud: Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday said Rahul Gandhi's press conference has exposed India's "biggest electoral fraud" and slammed the Election Commission, saying the poll body that stays "asleep" on hate-filled speeches suddenly becomes active in removing genuine voters from the electoral roll and adding fake ones.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that the revision of voter list is actually "vote theft".
Ramesh's remarks came after Gandhi, at a press conference here, claimed that the Haryana assembly polls last year were "stolen".
Reacting to Gandhi's remarks, Election Commission officials said his charge is "unfounded" as no appeals were filed against the electoral rolls in Haryana.
In his post on X, Ramesh said, "Rahul Gandhi's press conference has exposed India's biggest electoral fraud. 25 lakh fake voters in Haryana -- prepared with the full knowledge of the BJP and the silent consent of the Election Commission."
"The Modi-Shah model is clear: when public support isn't forthcoming, just change the voter list itself," the Congress leader said.
"The same Election Commission that stays asleep on hate-filled speeches suddenly becomes active in removing genuine voters from the list and adding fake ones. This isn't a revision of the voter list— it's vote theft," Ramesh said.
Earlier, Gandhi cited electoral list data to claim that 25 lakh entries were fake and the Election Commission colluded with the BJP to make the party win in Haryana.
The elaborate plan included a Brazilian model whose photograph was used 22 times in 10 booths in the Rai assembly constituency during the 2024 assembly elections, the former Congress president said at the press conference during which he put up a presentation to back his claim.
The poll authority, Gandhi added, launched "Operation Sarkar Chori" to convert the landslide victory of his party into a loss in the state
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said he is questioning the Election Commission and the democratic process in the country and is doing so with 100 per cent proof.
Gandhi also alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two election commissioners colluded with the BJP to ensure the ruling party's victory in Haryana and claimed "they are in partnership" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Protesters clash with police during torch rally in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): People protesting the death of two children in a recent bomb blast in Manipur clashed with security forces during a torch rally in the state capital Imphal, police said.
Two children died in a bomb blast at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur on April 7. The Imphal Valley districts have been witnessing daily protests over the incident.
A seven-km-long torch rally was brought out from Mayai Lambi to Keishamthong in Imphal West district on Monday night, but the participants turned violent and clashed with the security forces, a police officer said.
Security forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells in Keishamthong area after hundreds of protesters defying curfew demanded they be allowed to proceed for another 200 metres towards Keisampat area, which is close to the Lok Bhavan and the BJP state office, he said.
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Orders prohibiting the movement of any individuals outside their respective homes are in force in all the five valley districts from 5 pm to 5 am.
"Protesters pelted the security forces with stones and iron pellets from catapults, endangering the lives of the heavily outnumbered security forces," the officer said.
Manipur Police have, meanwhile, arrested 19 people for violating curfew and committing offences, including blocking roads and damaging public property, in the Greater Imphal area. They were nabbed from different parts of Imphal West district on Sunday, a police statement said.
In the Ukhrul district headquarters, a candlelight vigil was held on Monday night to honour the two Tangkhul Naga civilians who were killed in an ambush in TM Kasom area in the district on April 18.
Various civil society organisations from both the valley and hill areas strongly condemned the brutal killings, alleging that the victims were shot by Kuki militants using sniper rifles.
