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Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Jagran Bureau, New Delhi. Responding to the discussion on SIR in the name of electoral reforms for the last two days, Union Home Minister Amit Shah not only rejected the narrative of vote theft by the opposition and Rahul Gandhi with facts but also gave a befitting reply that there have been three historical incidents of vote theft in which Nehru was made the PM even after Sardar Patel got more votes.
The second incident was of Indira Gandhi when she won the election unfairly and the third incident is related to Sonia Gandhi. Shah referred to a recent case in the court in which an attempt was made to become a voter despite not having Indian citizenship.
Shah rejected the opposition's narrative of vote theft
In front of the stunned Congress members, he answered each and every question of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, calling his vote-stealing press conference a conspiracy to spread confusion. However, the opposition walked out when he said that no infiltrators would be allowed to remain in the country.
In his aggressive reply, Shah said that vote theft happens when power is taken against the mandate. Referring to the first general election of 1952, he said that Sardar Patel had got 28 votes within the Congress while Jawaharlal Nehru got only two. Still Nehru was made the PM. This was vote theft at that time.
Gave examples of Sardar Patel, Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi
The second example in which Amit Shah gave himself immunity was when Indira Gandhi won the election unfairly and the court rejected it, by making a law through the Parliament and said that no case can be filed against the Prime Minister. When in the third instance he mentioned a petition filed in the Delhi Civil Court against Sonia Gandhi, the Congress was stunned. Some members stood up and protested.
Shah replied sequentially to three questions raised by Rahul Gandhi a day earlier, including removal of the Chief Justice from the process of appointing the Election Commissioner, immunity being given to Election Commissioners and removal of CCTV footage within 45 days. He said that today's appointment process is more transparent than before. For 73 years after independence, the Prime Minister used to directly appoint the Election Commissioner.
Answered the opposition's questions on the election process
The new law of 2023 increased transparency and accountability by making a provision for the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and a Union Minister to jointly decide the name. Also reminded of former Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla on whom Shah Committee had pointed fingers. On the issue of immunity, Shah said that this protection has come from the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the government has not added any new words to it.
Regarding CCTV footage, Shah argued that there is already a 45-day time limit for objecting to the election results. Therefore, the Commission made a provision to preserve the footage for 45 days, whichever party wants more can go to the High Court and ask for that footage through a court order. Meanwhile, Rahul also appeared angry on some occasions and accused Shah of being nervous. Despite getting the reply, they went out after the walkout and also said that Shah did not answer their questions.
On the issue of EVM-VVPAT, Shah argued on the basis of history and audit evidence and gave credit to Rajiv Gandhi's government for bringing EVMs in the country. Citing the victory of Congress in 2004 and 2009, he said that no one raised questions on EVMs then. Later, the Election Commission did not find any counting discrepancy in more than 16 thousand EVM-VVPAT matches.
Booth capturing and ballot box looting ended
Shah claimed that EVMs ended old anomalies like booth capturing and ballot box looting. He said that the opposition should learn to accept defeat. Baseless allegations on election processes are an insult to both democracy and the people.
Shah said that SIR is the authority of the Election Commission and it is derived from the Constitution. He said infiltrators will not be tolerated. Surprisingly, the opposition also staged a walkout and Shah did not shy away from taunting that he had talked about throwing out the infiltrator.
Shah said that Rahul Gandhi's 'Save Infiltrators' campaign in Bihar has wiped him clean. Pashani is protecting Trinamool infiltrators in Bengal. They will also face the same fate.
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