Mumbai: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshavardhan Sapkal today launched a scathing attack on the BJP, stating that the party “even views the issue of vote theft through a Hindu–Muslim prism” and one can “only feel pity for such a mindset.”
Addressing a press conference at Tilak Bhavan after the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Executive Committee meeting, Sapkal accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state of coming to power by stealing votes.
“Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has placed evidence before the country showing how elections were manipulated with support from the Election Commission. This is a direct threat to democracy,” Sapkal said.
“The Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi were the first to expose this. Now opposition parties across India are raising their voice. The BJP, instead of answering, is trying to communalise even this issue. It is shameful.”
Sapkal said that massive protests have already been held in Kamptee (Nagpur) as well as Mumbai, and the Congress will continue to agitate until accountability is fixed.
National Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib accused the BJP–Mahayuti government of attempting to “suppress the Dr. Sampada Munde case.”
“Former BJP MP Ranjitsinh Naik Nimbalkar must be arrested immediately. Dr. Sampada Munde died by suicide due to harassment by Nimbalkar and police officials. When the ruling party leader himself is involved, and the Chief Minister has already given him a clean chit before investigation, how can officials conduct a fair probe?” Chib asked.
Chib demanded that a Special Investigation Team comprising High Court judges be constituted for a free and fair inquiry.
“If the government does not set up a judicial SIT by November 10, Maharashtra Youth Congress will march to the Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha Bungalow, and launch an intense protest,” he warned.
State Youth Congress President Shivraj More added that youth from across Maharashtra will participate in the protest if the government fails to act.
