Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi Clash Over Voter Fraud Claims in Intense Lok Sabha Debate
In a heated exchange Wednesday between Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the two faced off over Rahul's claims of "voter fraud" in Haryana and Bihar.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) December 10: On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha engaged in a passionate debate between Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding the latter's claims of vote chori.
Amit Shah stated that Congress is to blame for its electoral defeats and that Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and the Voter List are not to blame, as the defeat has occurred because of the leadership of Congress. Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Voter Fraud in Haryana, claiming that there have been 19 instances of fake voters in Haryana.
Shah Challenges Congress on EVM Opposition and Participation in Hackathons
During the debate, Amit Shah asked the opposition to justify why they have opposed Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) since they first became available in 1989 under Rajiv Gandhi's Government. He recalled the Lok Sabha elections of 2004 and 2009, questioning why Congress did not object to the use of EVMs at that time, but instead continued to spread lies about EVMs and the results of elections through press conferences.
Amit Shah questioned why Congress did not participate in the EVM Hackathon conducted by the Election Commission to prove their claims.
Shah Cites Three Incidents of Vote Chori by Congress
Amit Shah enumerates three incidents, termed by Congress to be "vote chori ".
As for the first incident, Shah noted that Sardar Patel received more votes than Jawaharlal Nehru prior to India's independence; however, Nehru became the Prime Minister.
On the second issue, Shah states that Mrs. Indira Gandhi also committed "vote-chori", evidenced by Mrs. Gandhi's election to both Rae Bareilly and the Allahabad Assembly. After losing an election, Mrs. Gandhi appealed to the Allahabad High Court for an annulment. The High Court ruled in Mrs. Gandhi's favour and deemed the elections were compromised. Subsequently, Mrs. Gandhi enacted a law allowing Prime Ministers to be immune from scrutiny.
As for the third incident of "vote-chori", an ineligible voter, in this instance Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, voted. Recently a case has been filed in the courts that Mrs. Gandhi was a voter prior to being a citizen of India.
Home Minister Warns Opposition Against Undermining Election Commission’s Credibility
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking during a debate in the Lok Sabha regarding SIR, stated that by raising unfounded suspicions and questions towards the Election Commission of India regarding its impartiality, the Opposition has caused irreparable damage to the reputation of India's democracy on the world stage.
According to Shah, the Election Commission is a non-political independent organisation that has no political affiliation or sponsorship. This independent/enabling characteristic is granted to the Election Commission by the Constitution.
