1 hr ago
Govt Rejects Rahul Gandhi's Claim After President Meeting
Opposition leaders met India's President to talk about problems they say happened in elections.
Rahul Gandhi said the President asked them to provide proof.
He also accused senior government figures and the chief election official of acting against democracy.
Government sources said his claims were wrong.
Other opposition leaders said the President would look at the evidence once they sent it.
The group says it is gathering that evidence.
Its members also want changes to voter lists and have called for elections to use paper ballots.
Police stopped their march before some of the leaders went to the meeting.
An INDIA bloc delegation met President Droupadi Murmu for nearly an hour and submitted a memorandum about alleged electoral irregularities.
Rahul Gandhi said Murmu asked the group to provide evidence and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar were conspiring against democracy.
Government sources called Gandhi's claims incorrect and said it was unfortunate that the President was being drawn into the controversy.
Opposition leaders said Murmu would examine the allegations after receiving evidence; the bloc said it was compiling material to submit.
Before the meeting, police stopped an INDIA bloc march at Vijay Chowk; the Opposition is also demanding changes to electoral rolls and a return to paper ballots.
- Who
- An INDIA bloc delegation, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Mamata Banerjee, met President Droupadi Murmu.
- What
- The delegation submitted a memorandum and raised allegations of electoral irregularities; the government rejected Gandhi's claims.
- Where
- Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi; police stopped the march at Vijay Chowk.
- When
- The meeting took place after an Opposition march at around 8 pm; the article does not specify the date.
- Why
- The INDIA bloc is protesting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and what it says are irregularities in the electoral process.
Opposition leaders' account
Government sources' response
Gandhi's allegations
Opposition leaders' account
Rahul Gandhi alleged that Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar were conspiring against Indian democracy, and said the President asked the Opposition to provide proof.
Government sources' response
Government sources said the claims made by the Leader of the Opposition were incorrect and that it was unfortunate the President was being drawn into the controversy.
Electoral process
Opposition leaders' account
The INDIA bloc alleges that legitimate voters' names have been removed and says the Election Commission must be held accountable; it has also demanded that EVMs be replaced by paper ballots.
Government sources' response
The Election Commission says differing views during institutional deliberations are normal and that its orders follow established statutory procedures.
President's response
Opposition leaders' account
Opposition leaders said Murmu would examine the allegations after receiving evidence and described her response as positive.
Government sources' response
Government sources objected to the President being drawn into the dispute; the article does not provide a separate account from the President.
Key facts
- Meeting duration
- Nearly an hour
- Delegation size
- Ten members
- President
- Droupadi Murmu
- Opposition evidence
- The bloc said it was compiling evidence to submit to the President.
- March route
- From Parliament House toward Rashtrapati Bhavan; police stopped it at Vijay Chowk.
- Electoral roll demand
- Pawan Khera called for suspending the Special Intensive Revision and restoring 13.8 crore names to electoral rolls.
- Election method demand
- Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated the Opposition's demand to set aside EVMs and use ballot papers.
Quotes
Government sources
Sources commenting on the President’s meeting with the Opposition delegation.
“We clearly said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar are conspiring against Indian democracy. The President did not deny, question or argue against any of our statements. She accepted what we said and then told us that we needed to provide her with proof of electoral fraud.”
businesstoday.in
“We have submitted a memorandum. We have taken a positive view of her response, as she said she would investigate, go through the details and that she needed evidence. She has asked us to send the evidence, which we said we would.”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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