Voter turnout figures were altered for three days after polling, alleges Haryana ex-CM Bhupinder Hooda

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday accused the BJP-led government of attempting to stifle Opposition voices after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations on the inclusion of fake voters in electoral rolls.

Talking to reporters in Delhi, Hooda said the police detention of Opposition leaders during their march to the Election Commission (EC) office was proof that the ruling party had “abandoned accountability” and adopted “dictatorial methods”. “The government is scared by the revelations made by Rahul Gandhi and wants to crush peaceful protests,” he said, terming the action undemocratic and unacceptable.

Hooda said Rahul Gandhi had presented “proper evidence” to support his claims of fake voters. “It was the Election Commission’s responsibility to respond with facts, but instead it is busy threatening the complainant. The Commission appears to be functioning as an extension of the BJP government,” he alleged.

He also criticised the EC for issuing notices to Rahul Gandhi while “failing to answer how so many fake votes were added to the voter list”. Calling it a diversionary tactic, Hooda said the Commission should explain anomalies in the poll results across states, including Maharashtra and Haryana.

He said it is clear from the results of Haryana that the public opinion was cheated here. “Rahul Gandhi has also mentioned Haryana in his disclosure. Everyone saw how after voting in Haryana, the Election Commission repeatedly changed the voter turnout figures for three consecutive days. whereas the final figures should have come by late evening on the day of voting,” said Hooda.