In Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi questions EC appointments, flags ‘vote theft’ in Haryana elections
PTC Web Desk: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP government during a discussion on electoral reforms in the Lok Sabha, alleging that key democratic institutions were being systematically weakened.
Speaking in the Winter Session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said India’s strength lies in its 1.5 billion citizens, calling the vote the “thread that weaves the nation together.” He claimed that the idea of equality for every citizen challenges the ideology of the RSS, accusing the organisation of believing in a hierarchical structure rather than democratic parity.
According to Rahul Gandhi, the “institutional capture” of the Election Commission (EC) is a grave concern, as it directly influences the election process. The Congress leader asserted that he had presented evidence showing how the commission is allegedly working in tandem with those in power to manipulate the outcome of elections.
Raising pointed questions in the House, Rahul Gandhi asked why the Chief Justice of India was removed from the selection committee responsible for appointing election commissioners. He also questioned the government’s decision to grant what he described as “immunity” to EC officials through legislative amendments, and sought clarity on why rules governing CCTV surveillance and footage retention during polls were changed.
He further claimed that the recent Haryana elections were “stolen,” alleging that the Election Commission played a role in enabling the irregularities. For meaningful reforms, he suggested providing all political parties a machine-readable voter list at least a month before polling and restoring the law that safeguards CCTV footage.
He emphasised that India is not just the world’s largest democracy but also its greatest, and cautioned that tampering with votes amounts to damaging the very foundation of the Republic. Accusing the ruling party of engaging in “vote theft,” he said such acts were fundamentally “anti-national” as they undermine the idea of India.
- With inputs from agencies
