Did Gaurav Bhatia Accuse LoP Gandhi of Threatening Constitutional Bodies?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Bhatia accuses Gandhi of threatening democracy.
- Gandhi's claims about voter lists are challenged.
- Accusations of misinformation before elections are serious.
- Importance of preserving democratic institutions highlighted.
- Calls for transparency in political discourse.
New Delhi, Aug 9 (NationPress) BJP's national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has made a strong accusation against the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, claiming he is threatening constitutionally-mandated bodies and spreading misinformation about the Election Commission of India (ECI), actions that could harm Indian democracy.
In a press conference held at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Bhatia stated, “The persona that Rahul Gandhi has crafted over the past decade resembles that of an anarchist. He consistently attempts to undermine constitutionally-mandated institutions and questions the integrity of independent bodies. His press conference on August 7, where he criticized the Election Commission, marks yet another effort to dismantle India's democratic framework. Is it appropriate for a Leader of the Opposition to intimidate a constitutional entity?”
Bhatia referred to Gandhi's recent threats of “consequences” for ECI officials if the Congress party regains power.
“He is directly threatening our democratic institutions. His method is straightforward—when they face electoral defeat, they blame voting machines, the Election Commission, or even the electorate. Yet, he has never lodged any formal complaint,” Bhatia contended.
He further asserted that Gandhi disseminates falsehoods without adhering to the legal requirements for filing an official complaint, which could be legally pursued.
“Such unfounded accusations foster discord and incite hatred,” he remarked. In response to Gandhi's claim that the ECI does not provide a digital voter list, Bhatia countered, “As far as I’m aware, all such lists are publicly accessible on the ECI website.”
Bhatia also dismissed Gandhi's assertion that CCTV footage from polling stations has been destroyed, stating, “By law, video recordings are retained for 45 days. If he truly believes in bias, he can approach the court for an extended preservation.”
Furthermore, Bhatia accused Gandhi of providing conflicting statistics regarding the increase in voter registrations in Maharashtra. “At times he mentions an increase of 70 lakh voters, other times 39 lakh, and now one crore. However, official ECI data indicates the increase was only 40 lakh,” he claimed, adding that such misinformation is being propagated just before the Bihar elections.