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Union Home Minister Amit Shah targets Rahul Gandhi over vote theft allegations (Img: X)
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a fresh attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over allegations of electoral manipulation, accusing the Opposition of questioning democratic institutions after losing elections. Shah said political parties could not overturn the public mandate through protests and sit-ins, asserting that electoral victories depended on public support rather than demonstrations.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Shah rejected the Congress's allegations of “vote chori” and alleged collusion between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI). He accused Rahul Gandhi of raising the issue to shield what he described as the votes of infiltrators.
Shah argued that the BJP's electoral success predated Narendra Modi becoming prime minister. He questioned why Congress and its allies continued to blame electoral manipulation for their defeats while remaining out of power in several states for extended periods.
The Home Minister also referred to the Opposition's approach towards court verdicts, alleging that its leaders accepted institutional decisions when the outcomes favoured them but questioned their credibility when rulings went against them.
Targeting the Opposition's protests in Delhi, Shah said political parties could not challenge the people's mandate by bringing party workers from neighbouring states and staging sit-ins in the national capital.
He maintained that parties should focus on public welfare rather than demonstrations and accused the Opposition of applying different standards to the Election Commission, electoral rolls and electronic voting machines depending on election results.
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Shah also expressed confidence in the BJP's long-term political prospects, claiming the party would remain in power for the next 30 years. He argued that the Opposition's current political approach would not help it return to government.
The Home Minister's remarks came amid the Opposition's campaign over alleged electoral irregularities and its criticism of the Election Commission. The dispute has intensified political tensions between the BJP and the INDIA bloc.
Shah also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party over governance in Delhi and Punjab. Speaking about the Yamuna, he blamed previous Congress and AAP governments for sewage pollution and reiterated the BJP government's commitment to cleaning the river by May 2029.
His comments add another chapter to the ongoing political confrontation over electoral transparency, the credibility of institutions and the Opposition's strategy ahead of future elections.
