'Big scope to doubt his intentions now': Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis slams Rahul Gandhi over Haryana 'vote chori' allegations

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday questioned why Rahul Gandhi was running the agenda of what the former called "international anti-India forces", claiming that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha wanted to create a "fake narrative" that would stop people's trust in Indian institutions established by the Constitution.

"Why is he creating suspicion about our democratic institutions?" Fadnavis questioned further, addressing the media in Nagpur.

He also claimed that Rahul Gandhi's thinking was quite "similar" to that of certain international forces who wished to destabilise democracy in India.

"When Rahul Gandhi talks about hydrogen bomb, it turns out to be nothing but a tiny cracker. He has got exposed yesterday as some media outlets are saying that he showed morphed photos. Some channels went to the spot and found out that voters existed on the addresses and they had voted also," said Fadnavis about Gandhi's latest allegations of voter fraud—25 lakh votes being stolen—in the 2024 Haryana elections, levelled against the BJP.

"There is big scope to doubt Rahul Gandhi's intentions now," the chief minister said in his sharp rebuke of Rahul Gandhi.

"Rahul Gandhi is even looking at our Army from caste lines now. He is raising question marks about the Army, the Constitution and the democratic institutions created by the Constitution. This is very sad. Who is Rahul Gandhi working for, whose agenda is he running—it has become very clear now," he added.

Fadnavis also criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's tour of Marathwada where he toured districts affected by the recent floods.

"First of all, it is good that Uddhav Thackeray has stepped out. When he was Chief Minister and farmers were facing problems, he did not even step out of the carpet of his house. What he is doing now is a drama just ahead of elections.

Fadnavis went on to claim that the farmers would not be fooled by this, as they knew that the government was aiding their rehabilitation.