New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that his continued criticism of constitutional bodies and democratic institutions is aimed at creating instability in the country as is happening in the neighboring Nepal and Bangladesh.
Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur accused Gandhi of attempting to undermine public confidence in India’s democratic framework through what he termed as "baseless and irresponsible allegations."
“Having suffered over 90 electoral defeats, the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi seem gripped by frustration and despair,” Thakur said. “Making unfounded accusations has now become a habitual political strategy for Rahul Gandhi, almost like a badge of honour he wears with pride.”
He also took a dig at the Congress leader for his recent statements about alleged voter manipulation. He dismissed the claims as "a damp squib" that failed to live up to their dramatic build-up.
“Rahul Gandhi had promised to drop a political 'hydrogen bomb', but ended up lighting a mere sparkler, and even that fizzled out,” Thakur remarked, criticising the Congress leader’s press conference held earlier in the day.
Citing the Election Commission’s (EC) clarification that no vote can be deleted online without due process, Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi of making allegations without evidence and then evading accountability.
“When asked to substantiate his claims or file an affidavit, Gandhi either retreats or changes his stance,” Thakur said. “This repeated pattern of making hollow, unverified allegations against constitutional authorities is deeply irresponsible.”
Thakur further pointed out that the Election Commission had already provided mobile numbers and IP addresses pertaining to the voter list inquiry, and questioned the inaction of the Karnataka CID, a state agency under Congress rule, in the matter.
He also referred to the 2023 Assembly elections in the Aland constituency, where attempts to remove voter names were flagged. “It was the Election Commission itself that recommended filing an FIR, and yet, despite all procedural transparency, no concrete action has been taken by the Congress-led state government,” he said.
“Ironically, a Congress candidate won the election from Aland. Does Gandhi now allege that his party won through electoral malpractice?” Thakur asked.
Responding to Gandhi’s comments that he is "not here to save democracy," Thakur questioned the Congress party’s broader intentions.
“If not to preserve democracy, is the Congress now working to dismantle it?” he asked.
The BJP leader accused Gandhi and his party of consistently questioning constitutional bodies and the electoral process, either by raising doubts over EVMs, VVPATs, election results, or by promoting alleged foreign-sponsored toolkits that seek to undermine India’s democratic credibility.
“The Congress must introspect whether such a pattern of discrediting institutions is now embedded in its political DNA,” Thakur said.
