While the Rahul Gandhi vs Election Commission row over 'vote chori' charge rages, it has offered a direct reply to the most prominent question among five the opposition leader posed to the poll body - why CCTV footages from polling booths are being erased.
The Election Commission fact-checked Gandhi's charges against it on Friday and called it "misleading". The poll body dared the Congress leader to file an oath based on his allegations.
Addressing a Vote Adhikar rally in Bengaluru on Friday, Gandhi posed five questions to the Election Commission:
1. Why isn't the opposition getting the digital voter list? What are you hiding?
2. CCTV and video evidence are being erased - why? On whose orders? 3. Fake voting and tampering with the voter list - why?
4. Threatening and intimidating opposition leaders - why?
5. Tell us clearly - has the ECI now become an agent of the BJP?
Responding to the charge of deleting CCTV footage from polling booths, the Commission said, "Any aggrieved candidate can file an election petition (EP) to challenge his election in the concerned High Court within 45 days. If an EP is filed, CCTV footage is retained; otherwise, it serves no purpose - unless someone intends to breach voter privacy."
"For example, reviewing CCTV footage from 1 lakh polling stations would take 1 lakh days - that's approximately 273 years, with no legal outcome possible," the poll body said.
The Commission also asked the Congress leader to refer to the judgment in the 2019 Kamal Nath vs ECI case on his question on the digital voter list. The Commission said the Congress party did not file any appeal during the preparation of the electoral roll for the Lok Sabha polls.
Also read
- Bihar polls | 'Habit of Rahul Gandhi's family': BJP targets Congress leader over controversial 'Modi will dance' remark
- Bihar polls | Rahul Gandhi mocks Modi: 'PM will dance Bharatanatyam for votes; scared of Trump'
- Why EC's SIR ignites 'backdoor NRC' fears in West Bengal? Controversy erupts over potential voter disenfranchisement
- Will Trinamool Congress cooperate with EC for West Bengal SIR? Poll body convenes all-party meeting to address concerns
"Many such allegations are being made by Rahul Gandhi and are being reported by the media, despite no written complaint ever being submitted by him," it said. "If Rahul Gandhi believes in his analysis and believes that his allegations against the Election staff are true, he should have no problem in submitting claims and objections against specific voters and sign the Declaration/Oath as per Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960," the Commission highlighted.
"If Shri Rahul Gandhi does not sign the Declaration, it would mean that he does not believe in his analysis, resultant conclusions and is making absurd allegations. In which case, he should apologise to the nation.
Either sign the Declaration on issues you have raised in the press conference, which you believe is true or else apologise to the nation," it said.
