Is there a basis for Rahul Gandhi's claims about vote deletions?

Sambhal, Sep 18 (NationPress) Following the recent claims made by the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP), Rahul Gandhi, regarding alleged systematic vote deletions from Congress booths, Zia ur Rehman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, remarked on Thursday that if such allegations are being made, "there must be some basis for it".

In an interview with IANS, Barq emphasized, "Rahul Gandhi is not merely another political figure; he occupies the crucial constitutional role of LoP. If he’s presenting such a serious charge, we should acknowledge that there is likely some truth to it. I advocate for a robust democracy, and it seems that certain constitutional roles are operating under undue pressure, which is detrimental to democratic health. Everything in our nation ought to operate under constitutional guidelines."

Barq added, "If Rahul Gandhi has spotlighted this issue, he is likely to offer more details or take action on it soon."

Gandhi recently criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that votes in booths predominantly supporting Congress were being erased through fraudulent logins via a centralized system. However, he did not specify whether the Congress would seek legal action or file a formal complaint with the Commission.

In response, the ECI dismissed these allegations as "baseless and factually incorrect", particularly addressing the claims concerning Karnataka’s Aland Assembly constituency.

Additionally, the SP MP responded to a new political controversy ignited by the BJP’s recently appointed Mumbai unit chief, Ameet Satam, who controversially suggested that the forthcoming BMC elections were about the "safety" of Mumbai and stated that "a Khan" should not be made Mayor—a comment interpreted as a communal reference.

Barq condemned these remarks, asserting, "No one can block an individual from becoming Mayor, nor can any entity impose their preferred candidate. This is a democracy governed by the Constitution. The electorate has the power to decide who becomes Mayor, MLA, or MP—not the BJP or any single person."

He accused the BJP of intentionally igniting communal discord, stating, "This mentality repeatedly surfaces—be it in speeches, rallies, or press conferences. Yet, there is no genuine animosity between Hindus and Muslims. It is merely a handful of individuals attempting to sow division for political advantage."

Expressing confidence in the electorate, he concluded, "I trust the public will react wisely. One of the very candidates targeted by such statements may very well emerge victorious—and that would serve as a potent rebuke to this perilous rhetoric."