NEW DELHI: Acollective of 272 distinguished public figures, among them 16 judges, 123 retired civil servants including 14 ex-envoys, and 133 veterans from the armed forces, has issued a strongly worded open letter criticising Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership. The group has accused them of deliberately trying to undermine key constitutional bodies, particularly the Election Commission of India.
Those who endorsed the statement include several high-profile names, such as ex-RAW chief Sanjeev Tripathi, former Jammu & Kashmir DGP SP Vaid, retired diplomat Lakshmi Puri, and others known for their long public service careers.
Backdrop: Congress’ criticism of SIR and EC
Their intervention follows days of escalating attacks by Rahul Gandhi on the Election Commission and the SIR (Systematic Internal Revision) process, with the Leader of the Opposition alleging that the poll body enabled “vote chori”.
The Congress has repeatedly asserted that the Commission’s actions have been “deeply disappointing” and demanded proof that it is functioning independently, not under political pressure.
What the signatories argued
In their open letter, titled ‘Assault on National Constitutional Authorities’, the signatories expressed alarm at what they described as a targeted attempt to delegitimise “foundational institutions”.
They wrote that a “rising tide of venomous rhetoric” is being directed at pillars of the Republic. According to them, certain political leaders have abandoned constructive policy engagement and instead rely on angry accusations without evidence.
After “their attempts to tarnish” the Armed Forces, Judiciary, Parliament, and several constitutional offices, the letter says those very leaders have now shifted their attack to the Election Commission, attempting to portray it as compromised.
Specific charges against Rahul Gandhi
The letter highlights several recent comments made by Rahul Gandhi, noting that he has repeatedly claimed to possess “open-and-shut proof” of “vote theft”.
It notes that Gandhi publicly described his supposed findings as an “atom bomb” that would leave the Election Commission with “no place to hide” once revealed.
The signatories point out that despite these dramatic claims, no formal complaint supported by a sworn affidavit has been filed by him, a necessary step to establish accountability. They add that threatening serving and retired election commissioners amounts to intimidating public officials carrying out constitutional duties.
Criticism of other political actors and groups
Beyond Rahul Gandhi, the statement also names senior Congress leaders, functionaries of other opposition parties, left-aligned NGOs, some academics, “ideologically opinionated scholars, and a few attention seekers in other walks of life”.
Accusing the Commission of acting as the “B-team of the BJP”, they argue, may generate emotion but does not stand up to factual scrutiny.
Defence of the Election Commission
According to the signatories, the Election Commission has already made the SIR process public, allowed legal oversight, removed ineligible entries, and added valid new voters in accordance with established procedure.
They allege that the attacks are an attempt to turn “political frustration” into the appearance of an “institutional crisis”, even as the Commission has followed the mandated checks.
Agencies