He claimed that while the BJP is rallying for 400 seats, they won’t surpass 180 without resorting to EVM manipulation, match-fixing, pressuring opposition leaders, and influencing media.
New Delhi, March 31, 2024: Speaking at the “Loktantra Bachao (Save Democracy)” rally organized by the INDIA bloc at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging attempts at “match-fixing” in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Gandhi drew an analogy with ongoing IPL cricket matches, stating, “When umpires are pressurised, players are bought, and captains are threatened to win matches, it is called match-fixing in cricket. We have Lok Sabha polls before us; umpires were chosen by PM Modi.”
Referring to the BJP’s election slogan of securing 400 seats, Gandhi asserted, “The BJP is raising the slogan of getting 400 seats, but without EVM manipulation, pressure on opposition leaders, and controlling media narratives, they will not be able to cross even 180 seats.”
The rally, aimed at showcasing Opposition unity, occurred amidst growing political tension as the elections draw near. It follows the recent arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate in a now-scrapped excise policy case. Kejriwal has been in custody since March 21, with his detention extended until April 1.
Commenting on Kejriwal and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s arrests, Gandhi remarked, “Two players from our team have been arrested before the match.”
Expressing concern over the financial challenges faced by the Congress, Gandhi highlighted that all their bank accounts have been closed. He questioned, “We have to run campaigns, send workers to states, put up posters, but all our bank accounts have been closed. What kind of election is this?”
The rally witnessed the presence of several opposition leaders, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah, and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. Delhi CM Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal and Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren were also in attendance.
