Did Rahul Gandhi Oppose the SIR Process to Shield Infiltrators?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi criticized for alleged false claims.
- BJP claims no appeals against electoral rolls were made.
- Internal discord evident within Congress and RJD.
- Bhandari demands an apology from Gandhi.
- Historical context provided by referencing the 26/11 attacks.
New Delhi, Oct 9 (NationPress) BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari has fiercely criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the Bihar Assembly elections approach, alleging that he is orchestrating a “false propaganda campaign” concerning issues such as ‘vote theft’ and the SIR process.
During a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, Bhandari pointed out that the Bihar Election Commission has confirmed that no appeals were submitted by any booth-level agents or party workers from the Congress or RJD about the final electoral roll.
This “zero appeal status” supposedly undermines Rahul Gandhi’s claims regarding electoral fraud.
“Rahul Gandhi wandered through the streets of Bihar, asserting that votes were being pilfered and that the SIR was detrimental to the poor. However, it is now evident that not even his own party members believe this narrative,” Bhandari remarked.
He emphasized that even the grassroots supporters of both the RJD and Congress view Rahul Gandhi as a “flop show” in Bihar’s political landscape.
Bhandari accused Rahul Gandhi of opposing the SIR process merely to “shield infiltrators”, asserting that his position is disconnected from the genuine issues facing the people of Bihar.
“This evidently indicates that the concerns Rahul Gandhi attempted to highlight in the Bihar elections have no basis in reality,” he added.
Moreover, he stated that the Congress and RJD factions in Bihar did not align with Rahul Gandhi’s assertions, revealing a clear internal discord among the alliance partners.
Bhandari charged Rahul Gandhi with “disrespecting the people of Bihar” and demanded a public apology from him. “By opposing SIR, he has insulted the impoverished of Bihar by labeling them as thieves. An apology is warranted from him,” he insisted.
Bhandari also referenced former Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s comments regarding the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
He questioned who within the UPA government prevented India from retaliating against Pakistan, suggesting that the Gandhi-Vadra family might have influenced the decision.
Quoting from former Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon’s book, Bhandari claimed that key officials advocated for retaliation, yet the government opted for restraint—an action he hinted was driven by political motivations.