BJP questions Congress’ silence on Sonia Gandhi becoming Indian voter before becoming citizen

Continuing its attack on Congress with allegations of corrupt electoral practices throughout its rule, the BJP on Thursday once again raised the issue of Sonia Gandhi becoming an Indian voter without acquiring the country’s citizenship. “Why no one from the party say anything on the matter,” it asked.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, stressed that no Congress leader, including Rahul Gandhi, has responded to the question raised by the BJP. “Rahul Gandhi, who always roams around with a copy of the constitution, has not said anything on it. He has been talking about issues related to the voters’ list, why is he quiet on his mother getting a voter card issued before she could have become a citizen of the country,” he asked.

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The Union minister also talked about the “corrupt practices” that the Congress allegedly indulged in during its rule in various elections.

On Wednesday, first Union Minister Anurag Thakur, and then the BJP itself shared information, giving details of the “corrupt electoral practices” during the Congress’ regime.

Shekhawat, while repeating the same during the press meet, highlighted the issue of Sonia Gandhi getting her name inducted in the voters’ list in New Delhi before becoming the citizen of India, wondering why the Congress was not issuing any clarification on the matter. “Gandhi-Nehru family always indulged in unfair electoral practices – ballot boxes were destroyed with acid, booth capturing took place, and nominations were cancelled,” he alleged, saying the grand old party doing anything required to win elections was not new.

“It’s been an age-old practice with the Congress,” the BJP MP averred.

Shekhawat also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of not supporting the country when it matters the most. “We have seen it many times, when the Congress leader should be showing solidarity with the country, he would do exactly the opposite, giving fodder to the anti-India forces,” the BJP leader said, adding he has done it on various occasions such as when India was dealing with Pakistan militarily in May this year, and also by speaking against Indian interests on foreign soil.

He also criticised the Congress’ opposition to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, saying on the one hand they raise concern over voter list, while on other, when an exercise is carried out to fix it, they oppose it.

The BJP and the Congress are at loggerheads on the issue of voter list, and have been accusing each other of having indulged in electoral corrupt practices to come or remain in power.