Banka: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday levelled sharp allegations against the BJP, accusing prime minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and several party leaders of “stealing votes” across multiple states, including Bihar. Speaking at a rally in Banka, he claimed that the ruling party was “implementing a vote-theft plan” nationwide.
“BJP leaders vote in Uttar Pradesh on one hand and then in Haryana on the other,” he said. “Modi and Shah have stolen the Haryana election. Yesterday it was revealed that BJP leaders voted in Bihar and also in Delhi. The Election Commission and BJP leaders are not denying my claims.”
Gandhi alleged that the ruling party intended to repeat this pattern in the ongoing assembly polls. “I guarantee they will do in Bihar what they did in Haryana. But they don’t know the people of Bihar. The people here will stand at polling booths and stop vote theft,” he said, urging supporters to remain vigilant. “BJP members will try to cast votes three or four times.”
He accused the BJP of prioritising corporate interests, especially those of Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, over employment and welfare. “These people work for Adani and Ambani. We work for farmers and labourers,” he told the crowd. “Modi says he has reduced data prices so that you can make reels. Will making reels or taking selfies give you jobs? When you go on Instagram and Facebook, Ambani makes money.”
Gandhi described social-media platforms as “addictions of the 21st century” meant to distract young people from unemployment and economic distress. He further criticised the government for allowing a surge in imported products. “Everything around you says Made in China. Because Ambani and Adani sell Chinese goods, the money from your pocket goes to them,” he said.
Appealing directly to first-time voters, Gandhi said Bihar’s youth were capable of building global-standard cities within the state. “People from Bihar built Dubai with their blood and sweat. If you can build Dubai and Bengaluru, why can’t you build the same in Bihar?” he asked.
He contrasted the historic reputation of Nalanda University with the state’s present struggles. “Nalanda was the world’s centre of education. Today, ask people about universities in Bihar and they say papers are leaked and only those with connections succeed,” he said.
Gandhi accused the BJP of dividing communities. “Wherever the BJP goes, it spreads hatred. We are the ones who sell love,” he said, promising that a Grand Alliance government would represent “every caste, every religion, every backward class, farmer and labourer”.
He pledged that such a government would “keep its doors open to everyone”, offering an alternative to what he described as the BJP’s “closed and controlled politics”.
