In a shocking claim, a BJP legislator from Gujarat's Fatehpura has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has installed cameras inside the polling booth and threatened voters that if they do not vote for the saffron party, they will be identified and won't be given work. BJP MLA Ramesh Katara while campaigning for party candidate Jaswant Sinh Bhabhor, said that people who will vote for Congress will be identified and won't get job.
"You'll see the photo of Jaswant Sinh Bhabhor (BJP candidate from Dahod) & Lotus symbol on the EVM, look for that & press the button. There should not be any room for error as Modi sa'ab has installed cameras this time," news agency ANI quoted the BJP leader as saying.
The BJP leader further said, "Who voted for BJP, who for Congress, it can be seen. Aadhaar Card & all cards have your photo now, if there are less votes from your booth then he will come to know who did not cast vote & then you will not get work."
The shocking claim of the BJP leader has raised concerned about free and fair elections. So far, the Election Commission had not come out with any clarification regarding Katara's claim. However, the threat to voters for not voting for the BJP isn't new and recently, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi had also made similar remarks.
Maneka Gandhi, who was later banned by the Election Commission for threatening voters, had said that if Muslims will not vote for her, she will not pay heed to their demands.
"This is important. I am winning because of the love and support of people. But if my victory is without Muslims, I won't feel that good. Dil khatta ho jayega (Things will become sour). Then when a Muslim comes to me for work, I think let it be, how does it matter. This victory will happen with or without you," she had said.