The oath template, seen by ThePrint, requires Gandhi to state on oath that “I, Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament, do hereby solemnly affirm and state on oath that the statement I am about to make under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 … is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.” It adds, “I am aware that making a false declaration in connection with electoral rolls is punishable under Section 31 of the RP Act, 1950. I also understand that giving false evidence is punishable under Sections 227 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.” Section 31 of the Representation of People Act, 1950 talks about the punishment if any person makes a statement in writing, “which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true” in connection with the preparation, revision or correction of an electoral roll, or the inclusion or exclusion of any entry in or from an electoral roll. Such a person can be punished with yearlong imprisonment or fine or both. Section 227 describes what amounts to giving false evidence. On Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, a source in the EC told ThePrint, “(he should) either sign under Rule 20(3)(b) or stop misleading the people of India and stop making baseless allegations against the Election Commission.” (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: Rahul calls EC ‘compromised’ at an event in US, BJP hits back over repeated ‘anti-India’ remarks abroad
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