RS poll ink row: Cong MP Batra demands CBI probe

New Delhi, July 21

Alleging rigging in the Rajya Sabha election in Haryana, Congress member Shadi Lal Batra on Thursday demanded that the election be countermanded and a CBI inquiry launched to ascertain the facts.

“I want to raise the issue of alleged rigging of the Rajya Sabha election (in Haryana)... where the pen provided by election officials had been changed and votes were cancelled on the ground that the ink was different,” Batra said raising the issue during the Zero Hour.

He alleged that both the pens were supplied officially.

The manner in which the Rajya Sabha election in Haryana was held sounded like a “death knell for democracy”, he claimed, alleging that both BJP and INLD had jointly conspired to win the elections through “underhand means”.

At this point, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the issue was before the Election Commission.

“I don’t think this type of allegation is correct. This type of sweeping allegation will not be accepted,” he added.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien also asked Batra not to level any allegations.

Batra further said “Congress members voted for the party-supported Independent candidate, but due to this conspiracy, an Independent candidate supported by the BJP was declared elected to the Rajya Sabha from Haryana on the ground that there was difference of ink on the ballot papers.”     

“The EC is probing the matter, but the report has not yet come. I demand that the election be countermanded and a CBI inquiry instituted to probe the whole issue,” the Congress member added. — PTI