NEW DLEHI: Home minister Amit Shah’s remarks during the Lok Sabha debate on election reforms sparked strong protests from Congress MPs on Wednesday, after he listed three instances across different eras in which he alleged the party engaged in “vote theft”, naming former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and referring to a case involving Sonia Gandhi over voter registration.Shah countered the Opposition’s accusation of “vote theft” by citing what he described as “three phases” of electoral malpractice linked to the Congress, including a pending case in a Delhi court that, according to him, disputes whether Sonia Gandhi was registered as a voter before acquiring Indian citizenship.“ …when you’re not eligible, still you become a voter. A while back, a case was brought up in a Delhi court where the dispute is that Sonia Gandhi became a voter even before she became a citizen of the country,” the home minister said. “There are three instances of vote-theft, first when Jawaharlal Nehru became PM even after losing the vote to Sardar Patel to choose the country’s first PM … second when Indira Gandhi’s election from Rebareli was set aside in 1975 by Allahabad HC and to cover it up she brought in bill in Parliament to provide immunity to PM’s – that no case can be brought against the PMs … third, when you’re not eligible still you become a voter. A while back, a case was brought up in a Delhi court where the dispute is that Sonia Gandhi became a voter even before she became a citizen of the country,” he said.The opposition benches erupted, prompting Shah to respond, “I have just said what is a fact that there’s a case in court, Sonia ji needs to respond in court why they’re replying here?”Congress MP KC Venugopal raised a point of order, insisting the allegation was baseless. “The case from the 80s that was filed against Ms Sonia Gandhi, the Rouse Avenue court dismissed that case; there is no substance in that case. Ms Gandhi didn’t even vote in that election and I’m challenging HM, Ms Sonia Gandhi didn’t even vote in that election. Can you prove it otherwise? HM is making misleading statements,” he said.Shah clarified that he had drawn no conclusions and merely spoke a fact. “I haven’t said anything like that, I haven’t made any conclusion. The conclusion would come out once she responds to the court order, and then I’ll discuss it again. I only said, a case has been registered in which a notice has been issued to Ms Gandhi. What is there to be so angry about?”The heated exchange marked yet another flashpoint in the ongoing debate on electoral reforms in Parliament.
