‘Dragged off streets, hundreds in custody’: Rahul launches scathing attack on Modi-Shah government

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing them, along with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, of “destroying democracy” and demanding an investigation into their alleged role.

Gandhi’s attack came as the Opposition intensified its campaign against the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. The INDIA bloc has announced a series of “Save Democracy” protests, with Opposition MPs also scheduled to march to the Election Commission headquarters on October 6.

‘This is treason’

Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister, Home Minister and CEC were collectively responsible for what he described as the subversion of the electoral process through the SIR.

“In this way, Modi, Shah, and Gyanesh are collectively destroying democracy through the SIR. This is treason,” Gandhi said in a post on X. He demanded that Kumar resign and “become an approver”, while calling for an investigation against Modi and Shah.

The allegations have not been established as fact. The Election Commission has rejected accusations of partisan manipulation and maintained that its electoral-roll decisions have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.

Belagavi deletions alleged

Gandhi’s latest remarks came while responding to claims concerning Form 7 applications in Belagavi, Karnataka. Form 7 can be used to object to the inclusion of a person in an electoral roll or seek deletion of an existing entry on specified grounds.

Gandhi alleged that an attempt had been made to remove the names of nearly 15,000 voters in Belagavi and claimed there had been a surge in Form 7 applications on September 22, 23 and 24. He further alleged that Muslims, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes had been disproportionately targeted because, according to him, many voters belonging to these communities did not support the BJP.

These are allegations made by Gandhi and the Congress. The available reports do not establish that Modi, Shah or the BJP directed the applications or voter deletions.

‘Controlled from the top’

Gandhi also revived his broader allegation that voter deletions were being carried out through a centralised process. He claimed that software was being used to target selected electors and that Form 7 applications were being generated in bulk through automated means.

The Congress leader alleged that BJP and Election Commission functionaries were acting together and claimed the process was “controlled from the top”. He said Karnataka Congress leaders had approached the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer seeking an FIR against those allegedly responsible.

The charge forms part of Gandhi’s wider “vote chori” campaign, through which he has repeatedly questioned voter-list revisions and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Opposition takes to streets

The remarks have acquired added political significance as the INDIA bloc begins its protest programme against the Election Commission. Opposition parties announced district-level “Save Democracy” marches from October 2 and five larger rallies as part of their campaign over SIR and alleged electoral irregularities.

Opposition MPs are scheduled to march to the Election Commission on October 6, while leaders of the alliance also plan to approach President Droupadi Murmu with their concerns. The Opposition has demanded greater transparency in electoral-roll revisions and the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

The INDIA bloc has also called for a return to ballot papers in future elections and urged the Supreme Court to expedite cases concerning the SIR and alleged electoral malpractices. These remain demands made by Opposition parties rather than findings of wrongdoing by the Election Commission.

EC rejects allegations

The political confrontation intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR and voter-registration processes.

The Election Commission has said differences and observations during deliberations are normal within an institution and has maintained that its final SIR decisions were collectively approved. It has also defended the legal validity of its orders and rejected the Opposition’s interpretation of the reported internal disagreements.

Gandhi, however, has sought to directly link the electoral-roll controversy to the political leadership of the government. His demand for an investigation into Modi and Shah marks an escalation of that campaign, taking his allegations beyond the Election Commission and placing the Prime Minister and Home Minister directly at the centre of the Opposition’s SIR offensive.