New Delhi [India], August 19 : Following the Election Commission of India's Press conference on Sunday, which addressed Leader of Opposition of Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's allegation of 'vote chori', Congress MP Karti Chidambaram stated that the press conference confirmed his suspicion that the EC is "not very fair," and they will now further intensify their protest.
While talking to ANI, he said, "The press conference conducted by the Election Commission on Sunday only further strengthens our resolve and also further strengthens the perception that the Election Commission is not very fair and the electoral role on the basis of which they conduct elections is not accurate and there are serious anomalies in it. I think we are going to further increase our protest and take the message to the people that we can't be having elections based on these flawed electoral rules, particularly under an election commission that seems to be very, very biased..."
He also made a sarcastic remark saying that the BJP leaders are obsessed with former PM Jawaharlal Nehru and added, "This kind of obsession with Mr. Nehru needs to be analysed. Why is the BJP, which has been in government now for 11 years, obsessed with Pandit Nehru, who passed away more than 5 decades ago? They must look ahead and run the government instead of always looking at the rear-view mirror..."
This remark came after the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday refuted all the recent "vote theft" claims made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on the Election Commission of India (ECI) while addressing a press conference in the national capital.
He termed allegations of bias by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabhas an "insult" to the Constitution of India. CEC also asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either furnish a signed affidavit or apologies to the nation for his remarks.
"An affidavit will have to be given or an apology should be made to the country. Teesra koi vikalp nahi (There is no third option.) If the affidavit is not received within seven days, it means that all these allegations are baseless." CEC Gyanesh Kumar said while addressing media persons.
The press conference attracted strong reactions from the Opposition parties instantly as Congress leaders as well as the opposition criticized it.