BJP Accuses Rahul Gandhi Of Spreading Lies Ahead Of Maharashtra Election 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission against Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. They accuse him of making statements that allegedly attempt to incite discord among states and falsely claim that the BJP intends to dismantle the Indian Constitution.

This complaint, filed on a Monday, centers around remarks Gandhi made during a speech on November 6 in Maharashtra, as the state prepares for upcoming elections. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, leading the BJP delegation, stated, “Rahul Gandhi tried to lie once again for the Maharashtra Election, he attempted to pit states against each other, he waved the Constitution and lied again that the BJP is about to destroy the Constitution. This is false. We said that this should be stopped.”

The BJP's grievance highlights Gandhi's November 6 speech at a rally in poll-bound Maharashtra, where he criticized the BJP and RSS, claiming they were undermining the constitution and manipulating educational appointments to favour RSS members.

In their complaint, the BJP elaborated on Gandhi's speech, mentioning his critique of the appointment process for university vice-chancellors, which he alleged was biased towards RSS members regardless of their qualifications. “If you take out the list of vice chancellors of India's universities, you won't find any merit. There is only one criteria for appointment- RSS membership. If you want to become vice-chancellor, take an RSS membership on Science, on Geography, on History...even if you don't know anything that does not matter when you are from the RSS. And this is happening not just with one institution, but with all institutions of the country," Gandhi was quoted by the BJP.

Furthermore, the BJP's complaint accuses Gandhi of making inflammatory and baseless allegations aimed at stirring discontent and division among Indian states, with a specific emphasis on Maharashtra. He was also accused of falsely claiming that production of Apple iPhones and Boeing airplanes in other states was at the expense of Maharashtra, which the BJP argues could harm national unity.

The BJP seeks legal action against Gandhi under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Section 353, asserting that his speech violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), as well as other electoral and penal laws. The BJP firmly believes that Gandhi's actions and statements are a “gross violation of MCC” and pose a severe threat to the unity and integrity of the nation.

Meghwal further emphasized that the Congress leader has a habit of making such accusations without heeding previous warnings and notices from the authorities. The BJP's complaint stresses that Gandhi's conduct and campaign tactics are consistently filled with falsehoods, aimed at creating enmity and ill-will between different groups within India, solely for electoral benefits in the Maharashtra assembly elections.

The BJP's action against Gandhi underscores a significant clash between the two major political parties in the lead-up to the Maharashtra elections, marking a contentious phase in India's political landscape. The complaint and the allegations within it reflect the intense rivalry and the high stakes involved in the electoral contest for Maharashtra.