The Bharatiya Janata Party slammed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his “vote chori” claims after the Opposition's meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday, calling him “a pathological liar” and saying he had “crossed all boundaries.”
Gandhi and other opposition leaders had met President Murmu over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). After the meeting, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that he was "shocked" that the President “didn't deny” the INDIA bloc's allegations.
Deep Dive
Why did the BJP call Rahul Gandhi a “pathological liar” after his meeting with President Murmu?
What did Rahul Gandhi claim President Murmu said about the Opposition’s “vote chori” allegations?
What demands did the Opposition make in its memorandum to President Murmu?
“I just sat in quite an unbelievable meeting with the President of India. We presented our memorandum to her outlining PM Modi and HM Amit Shah’s gross subversion of India’s electoral system and seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. I was shocked that the President did not deny Vote Chori,” Gandhi had earlier claimed in a post on X.
Turned President's meet 'into tool for politics’
BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, in a video posted to his official X handle, accused Gandhi of “continuously attempting to make the country's constitutional institutions victims of his politics.” The BJP leader said that any suggestions of the President having “accepted” the Opposition's allegations were “bizarre and reeks more of politics than truth.”
{{/usCountry}}BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, in a video posted to his official X handle, accused Gandhi of “continuously attempting to make the country's constitutional institutions victims of his politics.” The BJP leader said that any suggestions of the President having “accepted” the Opposition's allegations were “bizarre and reeks more of politics than truth.”
{{/usCountry}}“Rahul Gandhi and the leaders of the INDI alliance under his leadership have been making baseless allegations and engaging in unfounded demonstrations for the past several days,” Trivedi said. He further alleged that Gandhi had “crossed all boundaries”.
“…He tried to turn even a meeting with the President—the highest political institution of the country, for the President is not merely an individual but the nation's supreme political institution—into a tool for his politics,” the BJP spokesperson said.
Trivedi said that what unfolded during the meeting could only be revealed by those present there. However, he added, “The expressions and facial gestures of the leaders standing with him (Gandhi) clearly indicated that the words being spoken likely had no connection to the truth.” The BJP spokesperson also accused Gandhi of “previously twisting and distorting statements” from the Supreme Court “to suit his narrative.” “He is now making even positions like the Supreme Court, the Election Commission, and the President victims of his politics,” Trivedi said.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan called Gandhi “a pathological liar”, claiming he had “maliciously misrepresented facts to distort and twist the truth.” “Rahul Gandhi in the most shocking manner has now brazenly attempted to politicise the high office of the President of India with his wrongful and false attributions. Rahul Gandhi's reckless and dishonourable actions are most condemnable,” Kesavan added.
‘President asked for evidence of vote chori, we shall submit’: Kharge
Following the meeting, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said President Droupadi Murmu had asked the Opposition leaders for evidence to prove their claims. “She asked for evidence regarding the instances of Vote Chori; we shall submit the same. We will provide all other relevant information as well,” Kharge said in a post on X.
Kharge said the President had “listened attentively” to the Opposition and “stated that she would investigate the matter thoroughly, consult the concerned people/parties, and determine the appropriate course of action.” CPI general secretary D Raja made similar remarks, saying that the every member of the Opposition's delegation had made their demands known to the President. “Rahul Gandhi said that we have certain things that we can provide. This is how the meeting ended...” Raja told ANI news agency.