Maharashtra Congress Chief Targets PM Modi and Poll Panel

Mumbai, October 23: Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal used a press interaction to target the Election Commission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government, while also speaking warmly about Sonia Gandhi.

Sapkal demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign over alleged irregularities in the voter list. He asked why election rules had been changed and said the poll body must clarify its position without delay.

He went on to say that a private company had been given full access to the voter list, extending its control over the data. He claimed this data had been handed over to foreigners and argued that a sedition case should be pursued against the Chief Election Commissioner.

Responding to the Prime Minister's remark about attempts to crush India, Sapkal said Modi should first account for the promises he made 12 years ago. He asked how many of them had been fulfilled and said the government owed the public an answer on unkept promises and alleged falsehoods.

Sapkal described the government as repressive and accused it of trying to suppress every voice of dissent. He said a mass movement had already taken place over the SIR issue and that the battle for the principle of one man, one vote, one value would continue.

On Sonia Gandhi's book, he called her the party's leader and said she had played an important role as the daughter-in-law of India and as the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, despite repeated baseless and malicious allegations. He recalled that in 2004, after the Congress secured a majority, she declined the Prime Minister's post following the voice of her conscience.