'EVM tampering excuse for Rahul Gandhi's....", says Piyush Goyal to Network18

“We have kept a vision of how we can become a developed India in this Amrit Kaal, and what steps will be taken in that direction in our third term.” said Piyush Goyal outlining the BJP's vision for India's development.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated on May 12 that the opposition's allegations of EVM manipulation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are merely a pretext to cover up senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's defeat in the Lok Sabha election.

In an exclusive conversation with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Goyal discussed how the Gandhi scion believes the BJP and the prime minister will be unable to win an election without the ED, CBI, and electronic voting machines (EVM) on their side.

He claimed that the Congress and the opposition INDIA alliance know they will lose the election and are crafting a "silly narrative" to safeguard Rahul and the Gandhi-Nehru family.

The union minister for commerce, who is running as the BJP's candidate for Mumbai North in the Lok Sabha election, said that if there is any foul play, the Congress-led governments in Karnataka and Telangana should resign immediately, claiming that the assembly poll results from EVMs are inaccurate.

"In Karnataka and Telangana, they won the elections; so, they should immediately resign saying the results from EVMs are inaccurate. They should resign and say they will not form the government, and that they want ballot boxes back for elections. So, let them decide,” he said.

He also said that the opposition "emotionally blackmailed" the Supreme Court when a ruling went against them by denouncing it and praising it when it went their way. On April 26, in a momentous event, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of EVM-VVPAT and opposed the return to utilising ballot paper during elections.

Goyal described the matter as "silly" and the opposition's thinking as "appalling," adding that it would be impossible to tamper with over 12 lakh EVMs across India because they were not even interconnected.

"They also emotionally blackmail the Supreme Court, claiming that if a decision is in their favour, 'democracy is saved, Satyameva Jayate' and the Supreme Court will be lauded." However, if the Supreme Court approves the construction of Ram Lalla's temple, critics would arise.

“The lakhs of EVMs used across the country are not even interconnected over the net. I mean their thinking is so appalling. I would say below contempt. Can you imagine that there are over 12 lakh EVMs in use across the country, and they are not even interconnected? So, if there is to be any foul play, then you have to tamper with 12 lakh EVMs. And if that happens, then there is no question of any opposition party winning or forming the government in any election,” he further added.

According to a recent national newspaper investigation, 23 of the approximately 25 politicians who joined the BJP from other parties had their cases dropped or put in cold storage. When asked about this, the minister stated that the BJP considers the type of case a person is facing before integrating them and determines whether the person aligns with the party's values. He pointed out that many people want to join but are turned down if the party considers their background incompatible with its values.

“I think the law takes its own course and its own time also. But, our government does not interfere in any case. These are independent agencies that do their own work. And before we take anybody in the party, we also check what type of case the person is facing and whether that person will fit in with the ethos of our party or not. There are so many people who want to join whom we do not accept if we feel that the background of that person is such that he cannot be accepted into our party,” he said, adding that the central agencies work independently and cases are not buried due to the government pressure.

Regarding the ED and CBI, he remarked that the law takes its own path. “There is a rule of law. If you did corruption, you were nabbed. If you get caught with your hand in the till, the law will work accordingly,” he added.