The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's allegations of 'vote theft' as false and defaming democratic institutions, while the Congress has hit back saying that it is the responsibility of the opposition to change the government and the people of the country are now ready for change.
BJP MP Tarun Chugh said, “If Rahul Gandhi really has faith in the people and democracy of the country, then he should stop making baseless allegations on the electoral process, democracy, judicial system, media and sacred institutions like Parliament. Instead of making allegations, he should bring forward concrete evidence. It has become an old political habit of Congress to blame the Commission after the defeat in every election.”
Tarun Chugh further said, “Governments in India are elected through elections through the Constitution and democracy, and not by slogans of bloody struggle on the streets. Any attempt to instigate the youth and create instability in the country by spreading lies against the democratic pillars of India will never be accepted by the 140 crore people of the country.”
He alleged that Rahul Gandhi is creating an atmosphere of distrust and conflict in the country. For political gains, he is continuously working to defame the constitutional arrangements, India's sacred democracy, the judicial system and the Election Commission by raising questions on them.
At the same time, Congress leader Sandeep Dixit has hit back sharply at BJP leaders calling the allegations of vote theft wrong and accusing the opposition of trying to create instability in the country.
Sandeep Dixit said, “It is the responsibility and duty of every opposition party to change the government. We are not made to remain neutral towards the government. Our job is to remove the government from power when it does not work in the public interest.”
He said, “Elections are held every five years. Whenever we get a chance and we feel that the government is becoming weak, cracks are appearing in it and people have started raising questions, then we stand with the people and raise questions on their behalf. Rahul Gandhi has been doing this continuously for the last 11 years and now this thing has become a widespread public sentiment.”
Sandeep Dixit said, “BJP should not worry about what the Congress is doing. It should worry about what will happen to it when it loses the elections after three years. The kind of actions you people have taken with the institutions, the way you have promoted corruption, promoted your favorites in mining and other sectors, when they are exposed after coming to the opposition, you are going to face a lot of trouble.”
He said sarcastically, “You make preparations right now, meet the lawyers, bury your case files wherever you can. If you think you can change the officers engaged in increments, then change them, because this country has already made preparations to remove you.”
Sandeep Dixit also responded to BJP's allegations regarding Rahul Gandhi's foreign tour. BJP had said that Rahul Gandhi went abroad during a big festival like Durga Puja.
On this, Sandeep Dixit said, “Whether Rahul Gandhi goes abroad or not is his personal decision. He is the leader of the opposition. This issue has been raised many times in the past as well. We have seen that whenever he goes abroad, he talks to students in universities, meets the business community there, addresses people of Indian origin. Whenever he goes, he works on some issue related to the country, then why is BJP having problem with this?”
He said, “There was a tradition in our country that the Prime Minister did not go abroad during the Parliament session, but the current Prime Minister goes abroad during that period also, then BJP does not face any problem.”