Hyderabad: Kishan Reddy Tells Congress to Introspect Before Criticising ECI

Hyderabad: Union minister for coal and mines G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday urged Congress to introspect before “slinging mud” at constitutional bodies such as the Election Commission of India (ECI), reminding it that voters have kept the party out of power in Uttar Pradesh since 1989, Bihar since 1990, West Bengal since 1977, Gujarat since 1998 and Andhra Pradesh since 2009.

Addressing the mediahere, Reddy said the BJP “does not steal votes” but wins people’s hearts. He accused Congress of “degraded politics” by praising the ECI when it wins and blaming EVMs and the poll panel when it loses.

“It is not the ECI’s responsibility to make Congress win, nor is it the EVM’s job to make Rahul Gandhi Prime Minister,” he remarked.

Reddy alleged that Rahul Gandhi was systematically undermining institutions including the armed forces, surgical strikes, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Chief Justice of India, the ED, CBI, Intelligence Bureau, media houses, Parliament and the GST system.

He accused Rahul of lowering India’s image abroad and of having a “royal mindset” that only his family should rule.

He questioned Congress’s moral authority to speak about the Constitution, recalling the 1975 Emergency, restrictions on press freedom, curtailment of civil liberties and jailing of Opposition leaders.

He also cited the 2009 episode when the UPA government reportedly recommended removal of Election Commissioners for not complying with its directions.

He alleged that the Congress government in Telangana was preventing dharnas at Indira Park and forcing protesters to seek court permission.

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, Reddy said it was being conducted under Supreme Court supervision to remove ineligible votes.

He accused Congress of double standards for supporting SIR in Kerala and Tamil Nadu while opposing it in Bengal.

Asked about reported dissent among the three Election Commissioners, Reddy said internal letters and discussions were normal in a democracy.

As the Commissioners had clarified there were no differences, “the matter is closed,” he said.

He criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for allegedly prioritising the Gandhi family over state issues, warning that Congress had created economic distress in Telangana, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, putting even employee salaries at risk.

He predicted voters in these states would deliver a “befitting lesson” in the coming elections.