The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Saturday questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s account of his meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, arguing that while the Leader of the Opposition has the constitutional right to meet her, he should exercise restraint in publicly commenting on their conversation.
The reaction followed a meeting between a delegation of INDIA Bloc MPs and President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. The delegation, which included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, submitted a memorandum alleging electoral irregularities involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attempts to undermine Indian democracy.
After the meeting, Gandhi said the President had asked the Opposition delegation to provide evidence supporting its allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft).
BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy questioned the propriety of disclosing details of a conversation with the President, saying such remarks raised concerns about the dignity of the country’s highest constitutional office.
“Rahul Gandhi’s claims may even be untrue. However, as the Leader of the Opposition, he has the right to meet the President, but he does not have the right to comment on what the President said,” Rudy said.
Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi also challenged the Opposition’s allegations, asking whether the delegation had presented evidence concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“Meeting the President is everyone’s constitutional right, but did you present any evidence? No evidence was provided regarding the SIR,” Saraogi told IANS. He outlined the revision process, including the publication of draft electoral rolls and the provision for filing objections.
Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said political parties were free to express their views in a democracy but argued that the Opposition should also reflect on its electoral standing and its relationship with voters.
The INDIA Bloc delegation also included West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule, CPI-M general secretary M.A. Baby, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, CPI general secretary D. Raja, Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai and VCK president Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan.
The meeting came amid sustained Opposition protests against the Election Commission, the SIR exercise and alleged electoral irregularities. Opposition parties have also been demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
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