Rahul Gandhi says Modi, Shah would not be in power without Gyanesh Kumar, calls 2024 poll illegal

The Congress held a 'Delhi Chalo' rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, where Rahul Gandhi took a hard line against the Union government and the Election Commission. He alleged that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was illegal and that votes have been stolen in the country for many years. He also questioned the role of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Gandhi claimed that without Gyanesh Kumar, Narendra Modi would not have become Prime Minister nor Amit Shah Home Minister. He said that without Kumar's help, Modi would not have become Prime Minister again, nor Shah Home Minister. He also criticised Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Shah and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and said the country needs love and brotherhood, not hatred.

Addressing the rally, Gandhi spoke of saving democracy and the Constitution. He thanked the lakhs of people who had come, and said the rally was the voice of the country's youth, farmers and workers, and that attempts to destroy democracy would not be allowed to succeed.

Gandhi said votes have been stolen in the country for years. He said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also cited the situation in Bengal as an example. He alleged that the theft is carried out through electronic voting machines and the deletion of names from the electoral rolls.

Citing figures, Gandhi claimed that after the 2024 Lok Sabha election, 13.5 crore voters' names were removed from the electoral rolls. He said this is about 15 per cent of all voters. He said the National Democratic Alliance and the Opposition parties were separated by only 3 per cent of the vote in that election. Gandhi said the alleged irregularities in the election had emerged from information provided by the Election Commission itself, and on that basis he called the election stolen and illegal.

Gandhi attacked Gyanesh Kumar in very harsh terms. He said this was no petty theft but the theft of every citizen's right to vote and freedom of expression. He said that in the language of law it could be called a very serious crime, and he also described it as treason. Gandhi said Kumar would be removed from office and would have to go to jail. He also warned that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah would face legal action.

In his speech, Gandhi accused Modi, Shah and the Sangh of spreading hatred in the country and said this was damaging the soul of the nation. He said people want love, brotherhood and belonging, not hatred, and that India is a country of love. Invoking the wedding procession of Lord Shiva, he said anyone can join it. Gandhi also made clear that he does not hate Narendra Modi, Amit Shah or Gyanesh Kumar, but said they had attacked the soul of the country and that this would not be tolerated.