scorecardresearch
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomePoliticsEC under 'tremendous pressure’ from Modi, Congress doesn't expect fairness: Rahul Gandhi

EC under ‘tremendous pressure’ from Modi, Congress doesn’t expect fairness: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi speaks to ThePrint in an exclusive interview about 'Modi imprint' on Supreme Court and other institutions, and an undercurrent of anger against the PM.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

Chandigarh: There is a Narendra Modi “imprint” on the Supreme Court, the Election Commission and other institutions in the country, and the poll watchdog is going to act “in a slightly biased manner” because of “tremendous pressure” from the prime minister, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in an exclusive interview to ThePrint Friday evening.

Gandhi also ruled out the possibility of a hung parliament after elections, claiming that people are “a bit scared” of Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and there is an undercurrent of “anger” (against the two) “mixed with fear”, which voters are not expressing openly.

The Congress has been complaining to the Election Commission about poll violations by BJP leaders, especially Modi, who has been given clean chit by the commission in about half-a-dozen instances. On Saturday, Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the model code of conduct as far as BJP is concerned has turned into “Modi code of conduct”.

“It’s pressure. It’s Narendra Modi’s imprint. You can see that imprint on Supreme Court, you can see that imprint on the Election Commission, you can see it on the planning commission,” said Gandhi.

“I’ll be very blunt with you. I don’t like saying it. I’m not happy saying it but as Congress president I am not expecting fairness from them (Election Commission). I understand that they are under tremendous pressure from Mr Narendra Modi and they are going to act in a slightly biased manner,” he said.

“You can see it on all institutions of this country. Mr. Narendra Modi does not believe in independent institutions,” said the 48-year-old leader.

“This is the first time in our history that four Supreme Court Judges have come out and said listen we are asking for the people of India for justice. It is unimaginable. Never happened in our history ever before. That is Mr. Narendra Modi’s style. We don’t expect fairness frankly from the Election Commission.”

‘No hung parliament, strong undercurrent against Modi’

The Congress president ruled out the possibility of a hung parliament, claiming that the Lok Sabha elections are going to be “one-sided” because there is a “very strong undercurrent” against Modi.

“There’s an undercurrent of anger and I think it’s mixed with fear. So, the people are a bit scared of the Prime Minister and of his party president. So, they are not expressing yet openly but there’s an undercurrent. It’s going to be wiped out,” said Gandhi.

“I’ve already said my masters are the people. I listen to the order that they give. Whatever they will say on the 23 of May, I will obey,” he said.

Though the party chief feels “pretty good” about the Congress’ electoral prospects, he wouldn’t get into any number game. “Looks pretty good. I don’t do numbers, I do feeling. And the feeling is pretty good, you can tell.”

“So, I think it’s quite positive… a lot of disappointment with the Prime Minister… promise of job where he’s failed very very badly, farmers issue, corruption issue and overall the state of the economy. These are the main issue playing out. I think everyone underestimated the pain of notebandi, pain of GST, including my friends in the media.”


Also read: Don’t appreciate this nonsense, says Rahul Gandhi of Sam Pitroda’s 1984 Sikh riots remark


‘Unemployment will impact elections, not Balakot’ 

Gandhi added that it isn’t Balakot air strikes but joblessness that is going to have the biggest impact on the elections. “I have done 100 plus meetings. The top-of-the-mind issue by a massive margin is unemployment. It’s massive.”

“There’s no bigger issue in India today. It is unemployment and people are asking if China can produce 550,000 jobs in 24 hours, what is India doing losing 27,000 jobs every 24 hours? Why is India with all its brilliance, all its capability, all its energy, sitting with highest unemployment in 45 years? There’s got to be something gone wrong,” said the Congress president.

“And that’s what the Prime Minister is not answering. And if you listen to the Prime Minister’s speeches, he’s not talking about unemployment, he’s not talking about his failure. He’s not talking about a plan. He’s not talking about farmers.”

‘No interference in Manmohan Singh government’

To a query whether, in hindsight, he regrets his decision not to join the Manmohan Singh government as BJP leaders often talk about his inexperience as against Modi’s proven administrative acumen, Gandhi replied in the negative.

“No. I don’t think so (whether he should have been part of United Progressive Alliance II). I don’t think so. I am not inexperienced. I don’t think so. I think the UPA II was Manmohan Singh ji, it was the vision of Manmohan Singh ji — UPA I and UPA II — and it would have been out of place for me to be part of that,” said Gandhi.

“I always felt that I had told Mr Manmohan Singh ji he’s going to lead the government and I’m not going to interfere in any way. And I maintained that. It was a word I had given to Mr Manmohan Singh ji and I kept my word,” added the party chief.

On INS Viraat controversy

Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was lying when he alleged that his late father Rajiv Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi had used naval warship INS Viraat as their “personal taxi” during a “vacation”.

“Mr. Modi is trapped. He’s trapped in the web of lies he’s spread and now he’s sinking. Frankly as an opposition leader I am fighting him, and we are going to defeat him. He’s a human being. I am feeling bad for the Prime Minister.

“I am feeling bad because the people of India had faith in him. They believed in him. They gave him a massive opportunity. And he dropped the ball. He wasted time in some imaginary world instead of getting down to doing work for the people of India. So, I as a human being I feel bad for him,” added Gandhi.


Also read: For voters this election, Rahul Gandhi didn’t start the fire. That’s the problem


Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

3 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular