272 ex-judges, bureaucrats slam Rahul Gandhi over 'vote chori' charge
What's the story
A group of over 200 retired judges, bureaucrats, former Army officers, and diplomats have slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI). The group issued an open letter accusing Gandhi of trying to "drape political frustration in the garb of institutional crisis." The letter was signed by 272 people, including 16 retired judges and 123 former bureaucrats.
Rhetoric criticism
Letter criticizes Gandhi's 'unbelievably uncouth rhetoric'
"Some political leaders, instead of offering genuine policy alternative, resort to provocative but unsubstantiated accusations in their theatrical political strategy." "After their attempts to tarnish the Indian Armed Forces by questioning their valor and accomplishments and the Judiciary by questioning its fairness, Parliament, and its constitutional functionaries, now it is the turn of Election Commission of India to face systematic and conspiratorial attacks on its integrity and reputation," the open letter says.
Accusations addressed
Congress leaders accused of 'impotent rage'
It described Gandhi's "atom bomb" remarks as "unbelievably uncouth rhetoric." The signatories noted that despite such serious accusations, no formal complaint had been filed by Gandhi with a sworn affidavit The letter also accused Congress leaders of showing "impotent rage" over repeated electoral failures. It pointed out that when electoral outcomes are favorable in some states, criticism of the ECI disappears. The signatories stressed this selective outrage exposes opportunism rather than conviction, calling it a convenient deflection from strategic failures.
Immigration stance
Letter mentions former judges
The letter also refers to former Chief Election Commissioners TN Seshan and N Gopalaswami, whose unwavering leadership changed the Election Commission into a formidable constitutional sentinel. "They did not court popularity....They enforced the rules - fearlessly, impartially, relentlessly. Under them, the Commission gained moral and institutional teeth. It became a guardian, not a bystander...Now is the time for civil society and the citizens of India to stand firmly with the Election Commission, not out of flattery, but out of conviction."
Process respect
Letter calls for respect for constitutional processes
Furthermore, the letter called out the Congress's criticism of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. "Several senior figures of Congress...have joined in with blistering rhetoric against SIR, even declaring that the Commission has descended into complete shamelessness by acting like the 'B-team of the BJP...Such fiery rhetoric may be emotionally powerful, but it collapses under scrutiny," it said. Lastly, the letter called on political leaders to respect constitutional processes and compete through policy articulation instead of baseless accusations.