New Delhi:Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in his latest critique of the Election Commission of India (ECI), held a meeting with a group of individuals who were reportedly declared “dead” and removed from the voter rolls in Bihar. Sharing a video of the interaction, Gandhi took a sarcastic dig at the poll body, stating that while he has had many interesting experiences in his life, he never had the chance to have tea with “dead people.”
Details of the Meeting:
- The Voters: Seven individuals from Bihar, all of whom are alive, met with Rahul Gandhi at his residence in Delhi. They shared their experience of being declared deceased by the ECI as part of a “Special Intensive Revision” (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- The Allegations: According to the Congress party, these voters were removed from the draft electoral rolls despite having completed all the necessary paperwork for the revision. The party claims this is not a clerical error but a deliberate act of “political disenfranchisement.”
- Context: The meeting comes amid a growing controversy over the electoral roll revision process, particularly in poll-bound Bihar. The opposition has been protesting the exercise, alleging it is being used to remove voters who are likely to support non-BJP parties.
- Gandhi’s Campaign: This event is part of a series of “atom bomb” revelations that Gandhi has promised to release against the ECI, which he has accused of acting as an agent for the ruling BJP. He has also been questioning the commission on various issues, including the lack of a digital voter list and the alleged deletion of voter names.
ECI’s Response:
The Election Commission has, in the past, rejected Gandhi’s claims of voter fraud and has demanded he submit proof of his allegations, along with a signed affidavit. The ECI has maintained that the revision of electoral rolls is necessary to remove deceased, duplicate, or migrated voters and is a standard, impartial process. The commission has also fact-checked some of Gandhi’s earlier claims, stating they were based on incorrect information.
