Amidst the political battle raging in the country over fair electoral system, alleged deletion of voter lists and autonomy of constitutional institutions, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has made the sharpest and most direct attack till date on the Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Rahul Gandhi, who came out with his tough stance on the eve of the opposition's mega rally in Delhi, gave an open warning to Gyanesh Kumar and said that any kind of 'legal immunity' (constitutional protection shield) related to the post will not be able to save him from accountability in future. Rahul Gandhi made it clear that the opposition parties will directly deal with Narendra Modi and Amit Shah on the democratic and political front, but those who stab the voters of the country in the back while sitting on the constitutional chair will not be spared at all.
"Do not hide behind constitutional post"Rahul Gandhi's direct message Rahul Gandhi raised strong questions on the functioning of the Election Commission and said that the post of Chief Election Commissioner was created to protect the trust of the entire country like an impartial umpire and not to serve the political interests of the ruling party. He said:
"Gyanesh Kumar ji should remove this misconception from his mind that the legal immunity given under the Constitution will continue to protect him forever. Governments do not always remain the same, power changes, but the constitution and laws of the country always remain intact. Whenever there is an independent investigation, those who stole the basic right of democracy i.e. votes will have to account for each and every document."
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the top leadership of the Election Commission is taking such decisions by ignoring the rules and procedures, due to which crores of citizens are on the verge of taking away their voting rights.
"We will deal with Modi and Shah politically, but the collapse of institutions is unbearable."
Attacking the relationship between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission, the Congress leader said that the opposition is not afraid of political opponents. He said, "Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are our political opponents, whatever strategy they may adopt in the election field, we know very well how to deal with them and how to defeat them among the public. But when the person sitting on the chair of the country's Independent Election Commission takes off the cloak of impartiality and starts working like the B-team of a particular party, then it becomes not politics but a crime as serious as democracy and treason."
Rahul Gandhi alleged that ignoring the opinion of the two other Election Commissioners of the Election Commission, unilateral orders were passed in the Revision of Voter Lists (SIR), due to which voters from poor, backward, minority and deprived sections are suffering direct losses. The basic rights of the citizens are being snatched away due to 'voting ban'. Rahul Gandhi said that earlier the people of the country had borne the brunt of 'demonetisation' which was imposed without preparation, and now the game of 'voting ban' is being played in the country under a planned conspiracy. He alleged that the names of those voters who are vocal against the policies of the present government are being filtered out or deactivated from constituencies across the country. He said that when the elected MPs and delegations of the opposition wanted to meet the Election Commission and submit concrete evidence of discrepancies in the voter list, the Chief Election Commissioner refused to meet. Rahul Gandhi raised the question that when an institution has nothing to hide, then why does it run away from questions from the public and elected representatives? The voice of nationwide mass movement will be raised from Ramlila Maidan. Leader of Opposition made it clear that this fight will not be limited only to the floor of Parliament or court rooms. He called upon the youth, students, farmers and common citizens of the country to stand up to protect the Constitution and their votes. Rahul Gandhi said that the huge crowd gathering at the historic Ramlila Maidan in Delhi will give an open message that the people of India will not tolerate any kind of robbery on their democratic rights. He reiterated that the opposition has a complete file of documentary evidence ready against the Chief Election Commissioner, and when the time comes, this accountability will be ensured with utmost rigor, both in the judiciary and the court of the people.