Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on September 30 said leaders of the INDIA bloc were the “collective defenders” of the Indian Constitution and asserted that those responsible for what he described as the destruction of democracy should be punished. He made the remarks after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting of INDIA bloc leaders in New Delhi.
Rahul Gandhi’s Message to INDIA Bloc Leaders
Speaking at a joint media briefing following the meeting, Gandhi said it was the personal commitment of INDIA bloc leaders to ensure accountability for people whom he accused of having damaged Indian democracy.
Gandhi said the identity or seniority of those involved should not matter because, in his words, Indian democracy is bigger than any individual. He also described working together with opposition leaders as an honour and said the bloc was confident of bringing “serious changes” in the country over the coming months.
‘Vote Chori’ Main Issue at INDIA Bloc Meeting
According to Gandhi, the principal issue discussed at the meeting was what opposition parties describe as “vote chori”. He said the participating parties believed that India’s democratic system had come under attack.
Gandhi specifically named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while making these allegations. These are political allegations by Gandhi and the opposition bloc; the BJP and Election Commission have rejected opposition accusations concerning the electoral process.
The controversy has intensified around the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and opposition concerns over electoral rolls.
Opposition Plans ‘Save Democracy’ Campaign
The INDIA bloc also finalised a joint action plan during the meeting. Opposition parties decided to organise “Save Democracy” marches and demonstrations at the district level from October 2 to 8.
The bloc has also planned a march by opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6. Leaders are expected to seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to submit a representation outlining their concerns.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition parties would continue their campaign over issues connected with electoral rolls and the SIR exercise.
Opposition Raises Ballot Paper Demand
The meeting also saw the INDIA bloc reiterate its demand for elections to be conducted through ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Kharge said the parties had agreed on the demand as part of their broader concerns about the electoral system. The opposition has also sought action on several issues related to voter-list revision and the functioning of the Election Commission.
The Election Commission and BJP have defended the electoral process and rejected allegations that the institution is acting to favour the ruling party. BJP leaders have also accused the opposition of undermining constitutional institutions.
BJP Responds to INDIA Bloc Strategy
The BJP has criticised the opposition’s meeting and planned protests. Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the proposed campaign as a political exercise and questioned the opposition’s claims concerning electoral processes.
The BJP has maintained that the Election Commission’s voter-roll revision is intended to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls and has rejected opposition allegations of wrongdoing.
Political Dispute Over Democracy and Elections Continues
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks come amid an intensifying political dispute between the INDIA bloc, the BJP and the Election Commission over electoral-roll revisions, SIR and the functioning of election institutions.
While the opposition has called for greater scrutiny and changes to the electoral process, the BJP and Election Commission have defended the existing procedures. The INDIA bloc’s planned demonstrations and its proposed engagement with constitutional authorities indicate that the dispute is likely to remain a major political issue in the coming weeks.