When the police and Election Commission conducted a raid to find out if fake Voter IDs were being printed, they found only voter slips – also known as booth slips – which are legal.
On Monday, the BJP accused Congress of printing fake voter IDs, and claimed that a Youth Congress member had been arrested for the same. However, debunking this claim, the Election Commission has clarified that no fake Voter IDs have been found. The Bengaluru Police and the Karnataka Election Commission conducted a raid in Chickpet on Monday evening to check if fake voter ID Cards were being printed, however, they only found voter slips – also known as booth slips – which are completely legal.
According to Joint Commissioner of the State Election Commission Surya Sen, the officials found voter slips at Prabhat Complex in Chickpet, which are given to voters by all political parties to boost polling numbers.
“Generally, political parties distribute slips to voters asking them to vote for the party. These slips were found in the raid. There were also some papers regarding internal surveys the party had conducted,” an Election Commission official said.
According to BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad, who is the election official in Bengaluru, the slips were addressed to people who were registered to vote in the city but were living elsewhere. “This was being distributed to encourage such people to vote, and to ensure that polling percentage increases. It is not illegal," he added.
The controversy
On Monday, the BJP had put out tweets claiming Congress’s Bengaluru Central candidate Rizwan Arshad was behind a fake Voter ID scam, and that 18 people involved in printing fake Voter ID cards have been arrested.
“Youth Congress National Secretary Ibrahim Khaleelulla was operating from Prabhat Complex 3rd floor Room No 507. They were caught red handed by BJP corporate and karyakartas. It’s speculated Congress is printing fake voter cards in other parts of the country too,” the BJP said.
Congress Exposed
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 15, 2019
Youth Cong Nation Secretary Ibrahim Khaleelulla has been arrested after being caught printing fake Voters ID cards.
18 people involved in printing fake Voter ID cards have been arrested
Bengaluru central candidate @ArshadRizwan is behind this racket.
Youth Congress National Secretary Ibrahim Khaleelulla was operating from Prabhat Complex 3rd floor Roon No 507.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 15, 2019
They were caught red handed by BJP corporate & Karyakarthas.
It’s speculated @INCIndia is printing fake voter cards in other parts of the country too.
Congress party should be disqualified from contesting elections.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 15, 2019
They have challenged the very existence of democratic values in the country.
Will @RahulGandhi come out in open & explain the nexus between his party & the anti constitutional activities of his party members.
Election commission should ban @ArshadRizwan from contesting elections until the investigation is completed
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 15, 2019
The Congress today stays exposed before the country. They have waged war on the democracy of this nation@RahulGandhi, do you have any shame left ? Speak out !!
BJP legal cell has lodged a complaint with EC against this anti democratic act.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 15, 2019
Congress is corrupt, anti democratic, anti constitutional & dangerous for this Nation.
We request EC to act on this on priority. pic.twitter.com/rosd9CtDUf
After the EC’s clarification that no fake Voter IDs were found, Congress and its candidate Rizwan Arshad hit out at the BJP.
“As expected, sensing defeat in Bengaluru Central, a rattled BJP has launched extraordinary attacks on me through IT raids/fake ids claims,” Rizwan Arshad said, “I am their target because the BJP does not want an ordinary boy to succeed. They can’t tolerate the fact that Bengaluru Central will finally have one of their own representing them. Ordinary constituents of Bengaluru Central can see the BJP’s game plan. My appeal to ordinary residents of Bengaluru Central is this. You have to ensure the defeat of these feudal forces who are attacking me because I am one of you and NOT their arrogant and elitist class. They simply can’t digest the fact that a commoner will now finally represent you in the parliament.”
In Bengaluru Central, the contest is between Congress’s Rizwan Arshad, BJP’s PC Mohan, and independent candidate and actor Prakash Raj.