Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 19 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader CT Ravi on Tuesday accused Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of "spreading lies and making false" allegations of voter theft during his ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar.
Ravi also criticised the Congress for raising concerns over alleged EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) fraud ahead of the Assembly polls in Bihar scheduled later this year.
"If he had faith in the Constitution, he could have lodged a complaint, but he did not do so. This means he does not have proof and has made false allegations. He has gone to Bihar to spread lies. When Congress wins, they say people have shown faith in them, but when they lose, they blame EVMs, the Election Commission...," Ravi told ANI
Echoing similar concerns, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress party of wanting infiltrators and deceased people to remain on the voter list.
Prasad told ANI, "What do they want- that infiltrators be made voters? Should those who have died be kept as voters? Should those listed in two places be kept as voters? What do they want? They have not been able to clarify their stand so far."
"I want to say one thing to Rahul Gandhi, you raised the issue of Pegasus, there was a hearing in the Supreme Court, it was said that those who have a problem should give their phones for investigation, but you didn't give yours. On the Rafale issue, you had to apologise in front of the Supreme Court...The country will never forgive you. The way you have insulted the Parliament, you will never get votes," he added.
LJP (Ramvilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary also criticised the Opposition's campaign, stating it would not benefit their alliance.
"This yatra will not bring any benefit to their alliance. The people of Bihar have made up their minds to vote only for those who have brought development to the state. Whatever allegations they have made against the Election Commission, they should understand that the Election Commission is a constitutional institution," Choudhary said.
The 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' began on Sunday from Sasaram. The 16-day yatra has been organised to protest against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar and alleged 'vote chori'.
The yatra will cover more than 1,300 km across over 20 districts and conclude in Patna on September 1.