Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress after the Supreme Court rejected petitions seeking cross-verification of votes cast using electronic voting machines (EVMs) via Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. During a rally in Bihar’s Araria, PM Modi accused the Congress and RJD of failing to uphold democratic values and promoting booth capturing during their rule.
“RJD and Congress alliance in Bihar neither cares about the Constitution of India, nor about democracy. They did not let people exercise their right to vote for decades. Booth capturing was very common… They did not even let the people step out to vote,” PM Modi said, alleging that these practices were common during the Congress-RJD rule in Bihar.
He applauded the Supreme Court’s ruling on the EVM-VVPAT case, saying that the court’s rejection of the old ballot paper system signifies progress. “Now when the poor and honest voters have the strength of EVM, they are trying all they can to get rid of the EVM… Today, the Supreme Court has given a strong verdict saying that the old system of ballot paper voting will not come back,” he added.
Additionally, PM Modi accused Congress of conspiring to take away the rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He claimed that Congress plans to bring Bihar’s Muslims under the OBC quota, referring to the Karnataka model where he said Muslims get the lion’s share of the 27% quota for OBCs.
“But Congress is trying its best to implement religion-based reservation. It is trying to implement the Karnataka model of reservation in the country… They have betrayed the OBC community and included all Muslims of Karnataka in the OBC list, irrespective of their financial status. A major chunk of the 27% reservation for the OBC has gone to the Muslims now…Congress wants to do the same in Bihar and other parts of the country,” he said.
PM Modi also referenced Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, suggesting that Congress’s plans violate Ambedkar’s teachings that India cannot have religion-based reservations.
In response to the Supreme Court’s rejection of the EVM-VVPAT cross-verification petitions, PM Modi implied that Congress’s attempts to undermine the EVM system were aimed at disrupting the current democratic process.
These remarks come as the BJP and Congress continue to vie for support in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, with parties attempting to solidify their positions through various strategies and rhetoric. PM Modi’s criticism of Congress’s reservation policies and alleged disregard for democratic principles aligns with the BJP’s broader campaign narrative, focusing on integrity, social justice, and national unity.
