The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has recently accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the national anthem at a 'Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan' (Constitution Protection Conference) event in Patna. This accusation follows Gandhi's allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) and claims of a significant expose against the BJP.
The Allegation of Disrespect
According to the BJP, a video from the Patna event shows Rahul Gandhi greeting people and waving at party workers while the national anthem was being played. BJP spokesperson Prahi Bandari alleged that Gandhi and his family "hates Bharat". Other BJP leaders accused him of not standing at attention during the anthem. They deemed his behavior a mockery of the anthem, especially at an event meant to uphold the Constitution. The BJP also stated that this was not an isolated incident, reflecting the Congress party's mindset. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Andhra Pradesh BJP vice president, accused Gandhi of being unpatriotic, stating that he couldn't even recognize the national anthem and was casually roaming around.
Congress's Defense
The Congress party has vehemently denied these accusations, dismissing them as "concocted and manufactured". Congress leader Ajay Rai defended Rahul Gandhi, asserting his deep respect for the country and the Constitution, accusing the BJP of spreading lies to defame him. So far, there has been no official reaction from the Congress party.
The "Vote Chori" Allegations
This controversy comes amidst Rahul Gandhi's escalating allegations of "vote chori," where he accuses the Election Commission (EC) of colluding with the BJP to manipulate elections. Gandhi claims the Congress party analyzed electoral rolls in Mahadevapura, Karnataka, and found a significant number of "fake and invalid addresses" and "bulk voters". He has demanded the EC provide electronic voter data and CCTV footage, arguing their absence implies the EC is "partaking in crime".
Gandhi has presented what he calls evidence of vote theft in Karnataka, alleging manipulation in booths where Congress was leading. He claimed that voter deletions were carried out centrally using software and that an automated program was used to delete votes. He further claimed a fake login was used to attempt to delete 12 votes.
BJP's Counter-Allegations
The BJP has countered these "vote chori" claims, alleging that the "script and dialogue" for Gandhi's campaign originated abroad, intending to create a "trust deficit" in India's democracy. They further accused Gandhi of preferring foreign travel over visiting flood-affected states and violating security protocols on these trips.
Election Commission's Response
The Election Commission has responded to Gandhi's allegations, stating that no deletion of voters can occur online and that every affected person has the opportunity to be heard. However, Gandhi maintains that the EC is protecting those undermining democracy by withholding details about deleted voters.
Gandhi's Press Briefing
In a recent press briefing, Gandhi promised to reveal a "hydrogen bomb" regarding the "vote chori" issue. He accused the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of protecting "destroyers of democracy" and claimed that thousands of votes were deleted in the 2023 Karnataka elections using fake logins. He urged the EC to release details of all voter deletions within a week.
The Broader Context
This recent clash between the BJP and Rahul Gandhi highlights the intense political polarization in India. The BJP's accusation of disrespect towards the national anthem provides a fresh avenue to criticize Gandhi, while Gandhi's "vote chori" allegations aim to undermine the credibility of the electoral process and the ruling party. The coming weeks may see further escalation of these claims and counterclaims as both parties vie for public support.
