Gujarat: PM has installed cameras, will watch who votes for Congress, BJP MLA threatens voters in Dahod

VADODARA: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sitting with cameras. In which polling booth, how many votes have been cast in favour of BJP and Congress, he is watching through his own eyes. If BJP gets fewer votes from a particular booth, the area will get less government grants". These are the words that BJP’s Fatehpura MLA Ramesh Katara used while addressing voters.

Katara’s video of a recent public meeting in Dahod district in which he is heard saying above words went viral on Tuesday.

Katara is also heard telling the voters that if there will be fewer votes for BJP, Modi will not deposit money for huts in the bank accounts. It has not been confirmed where and when Katara was addressing the meeting.

The video also came to the notice of election machinery on Tuesday morning. The district election officer has issued a notice to Katara to give a written reply within 24 hours. "Prima facie the voice seems to be that of the MLA so we have issued notice to him because this is violation of model code of conduct," said district election officer and collector Vijay Kharadi.

When TOI asked BJP’s candidate Jaswantsinh Bhabhor about Katara’s video, he said, "I believe he must have said it by mistake and even if he has said it then voters should not believe it completely." Bhabhor who served as Union minister of state for tribal affairs has been repeated by the BJP for Dahod Lok Sabha seat.

"Whether it is BJP or any other party’s MLA such indiscipline behaviour is not proper,” said senior BJP leader and Union minister Parshottam Rupala while reacting on Katara’s threat to voters.