Raipur
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma launched a sharp attack on the Congress, saying that its ‘Vote Theft’ rally in Bilaspur on Tuesday clearly reflects the party’s double standards. He said Congress should not oppose the ongoing Special Investigation Report (SIR), which is essential for voter list purification.
Addressing a press conference, Sharma presented documents alleging that several individuals had obtained duplicate voter IDs at separate polling booths in Kawardha and Raipur assembly constituencies. He said such cases would now be taken to court.
The Deputy CM accused former Congress minister Mohammad Akbar of orchestrating the voter fraud, adding, “The Congress is now proving the proverb – the thief scolds the policeman.” He expressed surprise that many old voters had submitted forms as first-time voters.
Sharma alleged that while Congress claims to oppose vote theft, it is simultaneously trying to block the voter list purification process. He revealed that in Raipur city, a single house had as many as 350 voters registered. He said by opposing the SIR, Congress had put itself in the dock.
Citing Congress leader Sachin Pilot, Sharma recalled that Pilot had said: “Claiming vote theft is just a way to escape responsibility for one’s defeat.” Sharma advised opposition parties to work hard on the ground instead of spreading confusion.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said that a complaint had been lodged with the Election Commission, and FIRs would be registered against those who fraudulently enrolled themselves in the voter list. He urged Congress to stop holding rallies in Chhattisgarh and instead focus on self-reflection.
He also accused Rahul Gandhi of misleading the country on the SIR, adding that those who had become voters through fraudulent means would be expelled from the country.
