Rahul Gandhi Faces Backlash for Criticizing Election Commission in the US
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Synopsis
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi received significant criticism for his remarks about India’s electoral system during his visit to Boston. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Prahlad Joshi condemned his statements, asserting that they undermine India's democracy and reflect his frustration over electoral defeats.
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi criticized the Election Commission in Boston.
- Devendra Fadnavis condemned Gandhi's statements as damaging to democracy.
- Gandhi's party performed poorly in the Maharashtra elections.
- Union Minister Prahlad Joshi called for Gandhi to apologize.
- Gandhi is scheduled to speak at Brown University.
Boston, April 21 (NationPress) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faced significant backlash on Monday for his remarks regarding India’s electoral system.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned Gandhi's persistent efforts to tarnish India’s democracy and propagate falsehoods abroad, stating that such behavior warrants strong disapproval.
“His actions indicate the frustration stemming from a series of electoral defeats,” he commented in a post on X, reacting to Gandhi’s statements made in Boston targeting the Election Commission.
Following his party's poor performance in last year’s Maharashtra elections, where they secured only 16 seats, Gandhi claimed, “It is evident that the Election Commission is compromised, and there are clear issues within the system.”
The BJP tweeted, “Every international trip by Rahul Gandhi follows the same pattern: arrive, defame India, question democracy, and return. His travels have devolved into anti-India activities.”
Reiterating his party's narrative regarding its electoral loss, Gandhi asserted, “More individuals voted in the Maharashtra Assembly elections than the total number of adults in Maharashtra.”
He maintained that the high voter turnout was implausible and accused the Election Commission of withholding videos and information from his party.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi expressed on X, “Such repeated allegations clearly reveal his ingrained anti-India sentiment. No responsible leader defames their own nation on international platforms. Rahul Gandhi’s fixation on criticizing India abroad is shameful. He should apologize to the country.”
Gandhi’s critique of the Indian electoral process appears selective. The Election Commission has shown its credibility with the Congress Party's victory in Karnataka, where Gandhi’s party took power.
He refrained from criticizing the electoral system in Karnataka or Haryana, despite Congress losing in the latter, although not as severely as in Maharashtra.
Gandhi arrived in Boston on Saturday and engaged with supporters and the Overseas Indian Congress on Sunday.
He is set to speak at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, at an event titled ‘Conversation with Rahul Gandhi’ at the Saxena Centre for Contemporary South Asia.
