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Congress leader Bhai Jagtap on Saturday responded strongly to BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who had filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner over Jagtap's derogatory remarks about the Election Commission (EC). Defending his comments, the Congress leader emphasised that he was speaking on behalf of the people of Maharashtra.
While speaking to ANI, Bhai Jagtap said that this is the same Kirit Somaiya who used to roam around with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and warn against it. "This is the same Kirit Somaiya who used to roam around with EVMs and warn against it. What happened now? Our democracy and constitution have given me the right to speak. Not the Prime Minister, BJP or RSS. I am speaking on behalf of the people of Maharashtra. I don't have any regret," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner and wrote a letter to the Election Commission over Congress leader Bhai Jagtap's "kutta" (dog) remark directed at the EC. Speaking to ANI, Somaiya said, "I have written to the Election Commission and also filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner. Such a kind of insult, the humiliation of the Election Commission which is a constitutional body can't be tolerated. Action should be initiated against Bhai Pratap." BJP leader Somaiya further claimed that Congress was targeting the Election Commission due to fears surrounding the upcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections in March 2025. "In the last two days, Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) everybody has been targeting the EVM and Election Commission because everyone is scared of the local body Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections due in March 2025," he added. Notably, Jagtap refused to apologise over his objectionable "kutta" remark for the Election Commission. "I will not apologise at all, not even a bit...If they are working under pressure from the PM and other ministers then what I have said is right. I will not apologise...Election Commission exists to further strengthen the democracy of the country, and not to serve someone. I stand by what I said. The Election Commission should work like TN Seshan...Democracy is being disreputed because of the sycophant attitude of EC," he said. He further said that Congress brought the EVM technology because it was being used in France, and the US, but after 2009, doubts started arising over its use. Jagtap further said, "Ours is the biggest democracy in the world. If any such doubt is raised, it should be answered. Several petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court on this. A decision on the same was pronounced in April 2024. It was said that VVPAT slips should be counted, if you do not want Ballot paper. The petition stated that 50 per cent of the VVPATs should counted but the Supreme Court said that it should be 5 per cent but it wasn't done." (ANI)
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