Patna: Raking up the issue of “vote chori” in Bihar, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the NDA govt at the Centre was formed through poll rigging during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and urged voters to remain vigilant to prevent a repeat of such practices in the state polls.
“Agar vote-chori nahin ki hoti toh INDIA gathbandhan ki sarkar Hindustan me raj kar rahi hoti (If there had been no poll rigging, the INDIA bloc govt would be ruling at the Centre),” Rahul said while addressing rallies in Nalanda and Sheikhpura. He alleged that the NDA had been “frequently winning elections due to poll rigging”, adding, “Yet, they barely managed to win the last General Election even after stealing votes.”
The Congress leader said if the INDIA bloc came to power in Bihar, it would establish “the world’s best university” in Nalanda, restoring the ancient seat of learning to its former global glory. Recalling Bihar’s historical significance, Rahul promised that the state would once again emerge as a “global centre of knowledge and education” under an INDIA bloc govt.
Promising representation for all sections of society, Rahul said, “Each caste and religion will have a place in our government. Hatred can’t advance the state; love is beneficial.” He added that only unity and compassion could take Bihar forward, not division or fear.
Targeting the NDA over the recurring paper leak scandals, he said, “Nalanda, which once attracted scholars from across the world, has now become known for question paper leaks. Youths study hard and dream of jobs, but their hopes are dashed when papers are leaked and someone else walks away with the job.”
Rahul said that as long as PM Narendra Modi and the NDA remained in power, India’s youth would continue to face unemployment. “Important public sectors like defence, airports, railways, roads, and solar or wind power — which once generated lakhs of jobs — have either been privatised or shut down,” he said.
Accusing the ruling coalition of centralised control, he said, “The current govt is run by Modi, Amit Shah, and Nagpur (RSS), while Nitish Kumar is merely a mask. Modi presses the button, and Nitish plays to his tune.” Rahul said the INDIA bloc would “change all this” and form a “people’s govt” in Bihar.
The Rae Bareli MP also criticised the PM for not responding to former US President Donald Trump’s claims about intervening to prevent India-Pakistan conflicts. “The US President insulted our PM several times, but he kept avoiding him. Modi does not have the courage to say that Trump is lying,” Rahul said, challenging the PM to clarify the issue before the people of Bihar.
“Instead of confronting Trump, Modi is busy stealing votes and manipulating elections to undermine the Constitution of Dr BR Ambedkar,” Rahul alleged. Urging voters to remain alert, he said, “They could go for poll rigging till the last minute... Unko chhodna nahin (Don’t leave them).”
Manoj Chaurasia is a senior political journalist having experienc...
Read MoreManoj Chaurasia is a senior political journalist having experience of working for top national and international media in a career spanning over 25 years. He loves writing political, offbeat and human-interest stories.
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