Wadettiwar questions 80,000 voters added in four days to Nagpur graduates' constituency roll

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has raised questions over voter registration in the Nagpur division graduates' constituency. He said he suspects how 80,000 voters could have been registered in the last four days. Congress has therefore demanded an inquiry into the registration.

Wadettiwar said 96,000 new applications were added in four days. He asked where these applications came from and how this was possible in so short a time. According to him, Congress will demand an inquiry. He alleged that this was not possible and that vote theft was under way. He also called it dishonesty.

On the rebellion in Amravati, Wadettiwar said there was still time until withdrawal. In his words, Congress will talk, reach out and see what way out emerges.

Speaking on the tribal students' agitation, Wadettiwar targeted the government. He said the government was indulging in arrogance. According to him, the agitation was proceeding peacefully, the students sought permission at Azad Maidan, but permission was not granted. They were then picked up and forced into a vehicle. Wadettiwar asked why the government was so afraid.

He said the students had travelled about 300 kilometres and set out on foot with their demands. Wadettiwar said the government should send its representatives and hold talks, but this was a timid, frightened government. He also asked what arrogance the rulers had that they could pick up anyone and throw them into a vehicle. Using police force was wrong, he said. According to Wadettiwar, students were taking to the streets to demand their rights, and the government was making a pitiable attempt to suppress them, as he believes.

On the rice scam, Wadettiwar said that all the millers and the marketing federation process paddy by milling it and, after inspection, send it to Food Corporation of India godowns. He said that, unfortunately, the paddy is sold in the market and inferior rice is brought in. According to him, good-quality paddy is grown in the region, covering districts such as Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara and Gondia.

Wadettiwar said that for now there was a demand for an inquiry in Gadchiroli. He expressed hope that all of this would be investigated and that the government would act against anyone who supplied inferior-quality rice. He made this demand as well.

He asked what steps the government would take. He said it was all collusion, and that rates for milling are fixed even in Mantralaya. According to Wadettiwar, an inquiry has begun and he is watching it. He said he would follow it closely, that the matter could not be suppressed in any way, and that he would keep watch on it.