New Delhi [India], August 11 : Amid chaos over the allegation of "vote theft" by the opposition, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Monday hit out at the Election Commission of India (ECI), labelling it as an "extension office" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He said that the EC's invitation for a meeting comes as they have been caught red-handed.
"You can see the timings of the Election Commission. Their theft, exposed by Rahul Gandhi, proves that they wrote this letter in a state of nervousness," Bhagat told ANI.
Labelling the EC's responses to allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi as "dogmatic," the Congress MP stated that the LoP's questions to the constitutional body were being answered by the BJP, which has "tied its hands."
"However, the extension office of the BJP, which is the EC, operates under the Prime Minister's protection. This dogmatism has been adopted because Rahul Gandhi questions the EC, prompting the BJP to respond. So because of them, the hands of the EC are tied," Bhagat said.
Speaking on Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir's alleged nuke threat, the Congress leader said that India and its Army were capable of giving a befitting reply to such threats.
"India knows its strength and its limits. Our Army knows very well how to give a befitting reply. He (Asim Munir) is also threatening America with such statements. What does US President Trump have to say now?" Bhagat said.
Earlier in the day, Delhi police detained Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders. The police foiled their march to the Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station.
While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list."
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward).
Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared".
This development came as the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, granting an appointment for interaction at noon today.
"EC has granted an appointment for an interaction at 12:00 PM today. It is requested that, due to the limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons may kindly be intimated," the letter read.
On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine.
He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 100,250 votes.
"We found 100,250 votes stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, there is no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said.
The Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi "still has time" to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of "vote theft" or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the Election Commission of India.