States » SouthPosted at: Sep 27 2026 4:18PM


Rahul doesn't trust EVMs, does he trust his own father, asks R Ashok

Bengaluru, Sept 27 (UNI) Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashok on Sunday turned his attack on Rahul Gandhi into a sweeping indictment of the Congress leader's approach to constitutional institutions, with a sharp reference to his father Rajiv Gandhi becoming the centrepiece of the BJP's offensive.
Questioning Rahul Gandhi's criticism of electronic voting machines, Ashok asked whether the Congress leader's distrust of EVMs also amounted to distrust of his own father, under whose tenure the machines were introduced.
“I'll ask Rahul Gandhi who brought the EVMs—the one who brought the EVMs is your dad, Rajiv Gandhi. Your dad brought it and called it a black box. So what is your dad now? That means you don't even trust your own dad,” Ashok said at a press conference.
He followed it with a broader challenge to Rahul Gandhi's position on constitutional institutions.
“Don't you even trust the Election Commission? Don't trust the CBI either. Don't trust the courts either. Who do you trust?” he asked.
Ashok's remarks came amid the intensifying Congress-BJP confrontation over the electoral-roll revision and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with the Congress questioning the Election Commission's actions.
Ashok said the Chief Election Commissioner had already clarified the poll panel's position and questioned the Congress protests against the institution.
“The Chief Election Commissioner at the press meet has clarified it. There is no problem with us. He said that we have taken the decision together; whatever decision we have taken,” he said.
He also sought to portray the Congress's stand as inconsistent, pointing to its protests against the Election Commission and its earlier opposition to the formation of an SIT in the KPSC matter.
“Yesterday also, Karnataka Congress protested here. Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, all of them protested yesterday. I would like to ask them: Is the Election Commission not right? Are the courts right? Why were you against the formation of SIT regarding KPSC?” he asked.
Ashok alleged that the Congress had repeatedly questioned major institutions and national decisions, citing its positions on Article 370, Triple Talaq, the Ram temple and Vande Mataram.
“Today, for political gain, all the institutions of the country, in a way that spoils the belief, the work of souring the Constitution of this country, Rahul Gandhi is doing, whether he is doing it with knowledge or without knowledge,” he said.
The BJP leader also invoked the Supreme Court's handling of challenges relating to SIR and EVMs, saying the court had upheld the legal framework surrounding them.
Ashok then widened his attack to Rahul Gandhi's comments on the Balakot air strike and Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
“The surgical strike happened. Our soldiers risked their lives... What did you say about that surgical strike, Abhinandan? You called it bogus. That means you are insulting our pilots; you are insulting the soldiers of our country,” he alleged.
Ashok ended by accusing the Congress of casting doubt on a wide range of institutions, including the judiciary, CBI, ED and Election Commission, besides the armed forces.
“You haven't spared the soldiers of our country. You haven't spared the judiciary, you haven't spared the CBI, you haven't spared the ED, you haven't spared the Election Commission, you haven't spared the EVM. What have you spared? You haven't spared your father,” he said.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Rahul doesn't trust EVMs# does he trust his own father# asks R Ashok
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