00:00More breaking news coming in. Union Minister Prehla Joshi has said that they, which means
00:05the opposition parties, are trying to attribute the anguish they feel over their defeat to
00:10the SIR. Regarding the report published, I'm not saying they don't have the right to raise
00:14concerns, but the report does not constitute concrete proof. When there is no concrete
00:20proof and what was written never claims that a unilateral decision was taken. In fact,
00:25almost all decisions by the Election Commission have been unanimous. No one else has ever stated
00:31that they had disagreements. Such a claim is absurd, unquote. This is the message that is
00:36coming in from Union Mantri, who has defended the poll body. Prehla Joshi has hit back at
00:41the opposition, saying that SIR is being blamed because of the defeat of the opposition that
00:47they're not being able to tackle. Joshi has said that the allegations have no concrete proof.
00:51He said that the claim of Election Commission drift is absolutely absent.
01:01That unilaterally decision was taken.
01:17It's not acceptable. If you can't believe that the claim of the Indian Express has given the
01:26intent to bear the impact of the trade with the FVI. I am not telling that they have no right,
01:31But I am also not telling it is not a concrete proof for that.
01:36You spoke a proof.
01:37And when it is not at all a concrete proof,
01:43and whatever it has been written in the Indian Express,
01:46that also never says,
01:48that unilaterally decision was taken.
01:52Let me take this to my colleague Amit Bhardwad joining us on the broadcast.
01:56Samit, both sides concretizing their narrative very, very strongly
01:59when it comes to the BJP in support of the poll body.
02:02Another response from Union Minister Prehla Joshi,
02:04who went on to say exactly what the Election Commission is saying,
02:08that these were normal deliberations.
02:09Any sort of disagreement or concerns raised do not amount to dissent
02:14or the fact that the decisions were split.
02:18Right.
02:19You know, if you look at the BJP's narrative,
02:22it has not changed.
02:23So the first difference that had come from Sudhansu Dravedi
02:27and now the statement from Union Minister Prehla Joshi,
02:30it is actually in continuation.
02:33So even two days back,
02:35when the BJP came out in defense of the Election Commission of India
02:39and CEC Gyanesh Kumar,
02:40it had underlined that as to how every decision
02:43that is being taken by the ECI
02:45is after the endorsement of all three election commissioners
02:49as stated in the law as well.
02:51And if at all, as being claimed there were differences,
02:55these reflect the democratic nature within the institution.
02:59And also, you know, there is no proof to show
03:03that there were serious disagreements or rift in ECI
03:07as being portrayed in the report.
03:09So Pradhala Joshi is also reiterating a similar line,
03:13saying that there is no evidence to it.
03:16How do you claim that there were differences?
03:18And if at all, you know, certain objections were raised,
03:23this does not mean that any decision did not have consensus
03:26of all three election commissioners.
03:28So BJP is continuing to defend the Election Commission of India
03:31and CEC Gyanesh Kumar in this particular matter.
03:34But it would be interesting to see
03:35as to how, you know,
03:37the BJP would be responding to the India bloc meeting,
03:41mega meeting that is slated to happen on 30th of September,
03:44and how that also creates political ramifications
03:48on both sides.
03:50Back to you.
03:52All right.
03:53Amit, many thanks for those details.