Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “stealing elections” in multiple states, alleging that constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission and the bureaucracy, are functioning under the governing party’s control. Addressing the Sadbhavna Yatra in Khandsa, Gurgaon, Gandhi claimed that elections in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal had been manipulated by the BJP.
Allegations of Systematic Manipulation
“They have built a system to steal elections,” the Congress leader alleged. Referring to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he added, “Lakhs of names are deleted, lakhs of new names are added. The Election Commission and the bureaucracy are under their control. By attacking the democratic system, they have attacked Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. They have attacked democracy and the rights guaranteed to the people of this country.”
Ideological Battle
Framing the political contest as an ideological battle, Rahul said, “This is a battle of ideologies. On one side is the RSS ideology of hatred and division, and on the other is the Congress party’s ideology of love.” He acknowledged that opposition parties had failed to effectively challenge the BJP but expressed confidence that Congress would ultimately emerge victorious.
“All other parties have failed to stand against the BJP as their leaders fear the ED, CBI, and Income Tax. In the end, only Congress will stand and Congress will defeat Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and the BJP,” he said.
Criticism of Economic Policies
Taking aim at the Modi government’s economic policies, Rahul accused the Centre of favouring a handful of industrialists while unemployment and economic distress deepen. “The biggest issue in Haryana and across India is unemployment. Young people get degrees from colleges and universities, but they cannot get jobs. Small and medium industries collapsed under the current economic model. Youth are distracted with Instagram and social media instead of being given employment opportunities,” he said.
US-India Trade Deal Concerns
Rahul also criticised what he described as a “one-sided” US-India trade deal, alleging India had compromised key national interests under pressure from the United States. “India gave America everything and got nothing in return. India opened its agriculture sector to American farmers by reducing barriers on products such as pulses, cotton, and oilseeds. American farmers have mechanised farms and thousands of acres of land, while Indian farmers are struggling on small farms. Indian farmers will be destroyed,” he said.
Epstein Files Allegation
Rahul brought up the Epstein files, alleging that material linked to “Prime Minister Modi” exists in those documents in the US, though he offered no evidence for this claim. The remark drew sharp reactions from BJP leaders, who dismissed it as baseless.
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About the Author: Nikhil Sharma is a Principal Correspondent with The Times of India. He tracks crime stories in Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Nuh. He has extensive experience of legal, political, and civic beats and is always eager to break stories.
