NEW DELHI, Aug 9: As Congress leaders amplified the vote theft allegation of Rahul Gandhi, Election Commission on Saturday once again pressed the Leader of the Opposition to either sign a declaration to support his claims or apologise to the country for making “fake” charges.
A day after Gandhi and the EC exchanged barbs over alleged vote theft in at least three states, poll authority officials again insisted for a signed declaration by the Congress leader to substantiate his claims.
“Rahul Gandhi should either give a declaration as per the rules, or apologize to the country for his false allegations,” an official said.
After his “vote chori” claims, chief electoral officers of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana had asked Gandhi to furnish names of those he claims were either left out or wrongfully included in the electoral roles along with a signed declaration as per Conduct of Election Rules.
But Gandhi had made it clear that he will not sign a declaration, asserting that he has already taken an oath to uphold the Constitution as a member of Parliament.
RESIGN FROM LOK SABHA: BJP
The BJP on Saturday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi must resign on “moral grounds” from the membership of the Lok Sabha if he does not have faith in the Election Commission, and flayed him for not submitting a written declaration on his “vote theft” claim.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also asked Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to resign as members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha if they do not have any faith in the polls.
“You (Rahul Gandhi) make baseless allegations before the media and then refuse to give proof and a written declaration when the constitutional body asks for it,” Bhatia said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters here. (PTI)
