BJP making attempts to hijack elections in Bihar as it did in Maharashtra, alleges Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the BJP of making attempts to "hijack upcoming elections in Bihar, as it did in Maharashtra".

Addressing the party’s 'Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh' in Bhubaneswar, Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, said the INDIA bloc parties have decided to prevent the BJP from "hijacking" the Bihar assembly polls.

“Like Maharashtra, attempts are being made to hijack the elections in Bihar. The BJP is attacking our Constitution across the country,” Gandhi alleged.

During an INDIA bloc meeting held on Thursday, it was decided to "prevent the BJP from hijacking the elections in Bihar" where assembly polls are due later this year, he claimed.

He also accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of "not doing its duty but working for the interest of the BJP".

Gandhi also alleged, “The BJP runs the government for five to sin capitalists. It does not work for the common people of the country." Stating that the 'Jal, Jangal, Jamin' (water, forest and land) belongs to the tribals and will remain for them, Gandhi claimed that Odisha’s BJP government has "not implemented" the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.

"Forest rights pattas are not provided to the tribals. The Congress has brought the PESA and Tribal Bill. We will enforce these laws and ensure the tribals get their land,” Gandhi said.

He alleged, "Odisha is being looted by the BJP government, similar to what the BJD did during its tenure."He acknowledged the role of IIT, Madras and the private sector in developing 5G in two-and-a-half years' time, whereas the Chinese took over 12 years and spent 300 billion dollars to develop 5G technology.

"Even a screw that deals with anything related to data or security protection must come from a trusted source. It is either made in India or by somebody who is very close to India," he added, emphasising the need to totally insulate our system from the enemy.