JAMMU, Sep 28: Senior BJP leader and former Minister Bali Bhagat launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, accusing the party of selectively questioning the Election Commission and creating political confusion over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Bhagat said Congress appears to follow a simple political formula: “When it wins, the Election Commission is credible; when it loses, the Election Commission becomes compromised.”
“This is not concern for democracy; this is politics of convenience. Institutions do not become good or bad according to election results. If Congress trusts the Election Commission when it wins, it must respect the same institution when it loses,” Bhagat said.
Taking direct aim at Rahul Gandhi’s “Vote Chori” allegations, Bhagat challenged him to produce evidence instead of repeatedly making political accusations.
“Rahul Gandhi cannot turn a slogan into evidence by repeating it. If there has been ‘Vote Chori’, show the names, documents and proof. Approach the competent authorities and let the law decide. Press conferences cannot replace evidence,” he said.
Bhagat said the central issue in SIR should be the integrity of electoral rolls. The Election Commission states that only eligible Indian citizens can be registered as voters and that a non-citizen is not entitled to registration as an elector.
“Every genuine Indian citizen must have the right to vote, but an ineligible person cannot be allowed to influence an election. If Congress opposes verification, it must explain what exactly it is afraid of,” Bhagat said.
He said allegations of non-citizens, duplicate names or other ineligible persons appearing on electoral rolls must be verified through documents and due process, rather than treated as established facts without investigation.
Bhagat also referred to the controversy involving Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi’s mother. According to recent court reporting, Sonia Gandhi acquired Indian citizenship in 1983, while a complaint has alleged that her name appeared in an electoral roll in 1980, before she acquired citizenship. A Delhi court recently directed that the complaint be reconsidered after setting aside an earlier order that had refused to order an investigation.
Bhagat stressed that the court development does not establish voter fraud or criminal wrongdoing, but said the allegation deserves the same scrutiny and legal process that Congress demands in other electoral matters.
“We are not asking anyone to be declared guilty without evidence. We are asking for verification—the very principle Rahul Gandhi claims to defend. If there is nothing wrong, let the facts establish it. If there is wrongdoing, let the law take its course,” he said.
Bhagat accused Congress of applying “one standard to itself and another to its political opponents.”
“Congress cannot demand absolute scrutiny when it suits its narrative and then cry conspiracy when scrutiny reaches its own doorstep. Democracy means the same rules for everyone,” he said.
He urged Rahul Gandhi to stop undermining public confidence in constitutional institutions through unsubstantiated allegations.
“Rahul Gandhi does not own democracy, and Congress does not own the Constitution. The Election Commission belongs to India. Respect it when you win, respect it when you lose—and if you make allegations, bring evidence,” Bhagat said.
Concluding, Bhagat said the sanctity of the vote must be protected without political double standards. “India needs clean electoral rolls, genuine voters and evidence-based debate—not manufactured outrage. Stop the slogans, stop the double standards and bring the proof.”