“No vote can be deleted online” — ECI clarifies

In its official statement, the Election Commission emphasised that no vote can be deleted online by any member of the public, countering what it termed a “misconception” propagated by Rahul Gandhi. The ECI said that while applications for deletion of votes—through Form 7—can be submitted online via designated platforms, the actual deletion process is subject to rigorous manual verification by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).

The ECI further stated that applications can be made online, but no direct action, including deletion, is carried out automatically or digitally without human oversight. It also confirmed that in the Aland case, the forged Form 7s were identified and rejected, ensuring that no voter was wrongfully deleted as a result of these submissions.

ECI: “votes were saved, not deleted”

The ECI asserted that 5,994 forged Form 7 applications were identified and rejected in the Aland constituency, thus preventing any deletion of actual votes. It pointed out that in the 2023 elections, B.R. Patil of the Congress party won the Aland Assembly seat, suggesting that the fraudulent attempts did not impact the electoral outcome.

However, the ECI also emphasised that the fact these attempts were thwarted does not negate the seriousness of the crime. It reiterated that criminal efforts to manipulate electoral rolls—even if unsuccessful—must be thoroughly investigated.

CEO Karnataka’s response: verification was prompt and comprehensive

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka, also provided its version of events, highlighting the timeline and the scope of action taken. According to the CEO:

• 6,018 applications in Form 7 were received online through official ECI platforms (NVSP, VHA, GARUDA) in December 2022.
• Owing to the unusually high number of applications for deletions in a single constituency, ERO/ AERO/ BLOs conducted a verification process to determine the authenticity of each submission.

The CEO’s statement suggested that this verification was carried out proactively, but the context reveals that the process only began after complaints were raised by B.R. Patil and Priyank Kharge in February 2023.

ECI’s role in initiating investigation under doubts

While the CEO Karnataka’s communication may give the impression that the Election Commission initiated the inquiry independently, the FIR filed by Returning Officer Mamata Kumari paints a different picture. The FIR explicitly mentions that action began only after a formal complaint by former MLA B.R. Patil, indicating that the investigation was reactive rather than proactive.

The FIR quotes Mamata Kumari stating:

“Former MLA B.R. Patil, complained to the ECI that in 256 booths of Aland assembly constituency, 6670 votes were illegally deleted, based on which ECI directed and oral orders issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Kalaburagi district, that I should examine the complaint.”

This raises critical questions about whether the ECI acted swiftly on its own or was compelled to respond after political and public pressure.

What the ECI shared with investigators: a partial picture

According to the CEO Karnataka’s statement, on September 6, 2023, the ECI shared “all available information” with the Superintendent of Police, Kalaburagi District, including:

• Form reference numbers
• Name and EPIC numbers of objectors
• Mobile numbers used to create login IDs
• IP addresses and software application medium
• Date/time of submission
• User creation details

The ECI maintains that this data was sufficient for investigators to proceed with the probe into the forged applications. However, the CID strongly disagrees.

CID’s persistent requests for critical data ignored

While the ECI claims that it provided all relevant data in September 2023, the Karnataka CID has documented 18 subsequent requests from January 2024 onwards, seeking two crucial technical details:

• Destination IP
• Destination Port

These two data points are essential for investigators to trace the actual device and server to which the fraudulent applications were submitted. While dynamic IP addresses can be shared across hundreds of users, the Destination IP and Port help pinpoint the actual endpoint, narrowing the list of suspects significantly.

Despite these repeated and specific requests, the ECI has not responded to any of the CID’s 18 letters, according to Rahul Gandhi and official correspondence accessed.

Contradiction in ECI’s claim of cooperation

The Election Commission and CEO Karnataka maintain that they have been “providing any other assistance/information/documents” requested by investigators. However, the absence of a response to the 18 letters stands in direct contradiction to this claim.

The CID’s February 1, 2025 letter states that “During the course of investigation, the IP Logs are provided. On perusal the Destination IP and Destination Port are missing. Therefore, it is requested to direct the concerned to provide the same.”

This letter references an earlier communication from January 15, 2025, suggesting an escalating pattern of ignored requests.

Dynamic IPs shared by ECI “not useful” for investigation

The Election Commission shared dynamic IPv4 addresses, which are used temporarily by internet users and can be assigned to hundreds of individuals. According to investigators, each IP address provided was linked to over 200 users, making geolocation and identification of culprits virtually impossible. The lack of destination-specific data significantly hampers the CID’s ability to filter through the more than 8 lakh devices potentially involved.

CEO Karnataka’s “half-truth”: no mention of CID letters

The ECI and CEO Karnataka’s assertion that all required information has been shared is being challenged. While data may have been shared in September 2023, none of the subsequent requests made between January 2024 and September 2025 are acknowledged in public statements or responses.

This omission has prompted criticism that the CEO is presenting a partial truth, selectively omitting details that highlight the Commission’s inaction on follow-up queries that could aid the criminal investigation.

The ECI and CEO Karnataka’s response dated 18.09.2025 can be read here

Related

“Vote Chori Factory”: Rahul Gandhi accuses ECI of protecting electoral fraud, demands action in 7 days

Bihar SIR: 65 Lakh electors flagged for deletion, SC said “if there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in”

Bihar: Sinister move by ECI as ‘intensive’ revision of electoral roles set to exclude vast majority of legitimate voters

The post No vote can be deleted online by the public, ECI refutes Rahul Gandhi’s claim but refusal to share data raises doubts appeared first on SabrangIndia.

He highlights the alleged vote theft incident in the Aland constituency of Karnataka. He said that in the Aland constituency of Karnataka, 6,018 votes were found to have been deleted. Gandhi stated that person was caught by co-incidence. A booth-level officer noticed that her own uncle’s vote had been deleted

He continued to explain that when the BLO checked who deleted the vote, it appeared to be a neighbour. However, it was not the neighbour. The person whose vote was deleted and the person whose name was used to delete it were both unaware of the act. The real culprit, he alleged, was a different force that had “hijacked the process” and “used the software that deleted the voters.” This was not a human crime, but a crime of a system, a “centralised criminal operation to steal elections.”

LIVE: Special Press Conference – Vote Chori Factory https://t.co/ne8cdFCnMs

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 18, 2025

Modus Operandi: fake logins and hijacked identities

The modus operandi of the perpetrators was cunning. Rahul Gandhi presented evidence during the Press Conference that a 63-year-old woman named Godabai had a fake login created in her name and was used to delete 12 voters from Aland, Karnataka. When Gandhi’s team investigated, she claimed that she didn’t file any application to delete any votes.

Evidence of alleged voter fraud in Aland constituency, Karnataka

In support of his allegations on the Aland constituency, Rahul Gandhi presented five key pieces of evidence to show how the alleged fraud occurred:

1. Fake logins and impersonation: Fake logins were allegedly created in the name of a 63-year-old woman named Godabai to delete 12 voters. Rahul Gandhi’s team found that Godabai had not filed any such applications. The fraud was further evidenced by the use of mobile numbers from different states to delete 12 neighbours.
2. Identity hijacked for mass deletions: The identity of Suryakant Govin, a 67-year-old retired college principal, was allegedly hijacked. His credentials were used to file nine applications to delete voters, a fact he was unaware of. These applications were used to delete 12 voters in just 14 minutes.
3. Humanly impossible application speed: The press conference showed evidence of two applications being filed and submitted within just 36 seconds, which was described as “humanly impossible.” This points to the use of an automated program rather than individual human action.
4. Automated program targets: It was alleged that the perpetrators used an automated program that ensured the first voter of a booth was always the applicant. This pattern of using the credentials of the first or second voter on a local list to file deletion requests for others was presented as a clear sign of a sophisticated, automated operation.
5. Targeted deletions in strongholds: The deletions were not random. The evidence presented alleged that they were a “planned operation” with “targeted deletions in strong congress booths.” It was noted that the top 10 booths with the maximum number of deletions were Congress strongholds, where the party had won 8 out of 10 booths in the 2018 elections.

Based on this evidence, Rahul Gandhi asserted, “there is undeniable proof that CEC Gyanesh Kumar is protecting vote theft.”

The Original PPT on The Aland Files, presented by Rahul Gandhi can be read here

CID’s stalled investigation and unanswered letters

Rahul Gandhi revealed that, the investigation by the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the alleged fraud has been stalled. The timeline presented reveals a pattern of persistent requests from the CID to the Election commission of India (ECI) that have allegedly gone unanswered.

• February 2023: an FIR was filed following the discovery of the fraudulent applications.
• March 2023: the Karnataka CID wrote to the ECI, requesting all details related to the applications to further their investigation.
• August 2023: the ECI provided only partial portal information, which included dynamic IP addresses that were linked to over 200 users each, leaving the CID with an impossible task.
• January 2024 to present: the Karnataka EC has been repeatedly requesting full information from the ECI, including the crucial destination IP and destination port details needed to identify the culprits. Rahul Gandhi stated that the Karnataka CID has sent a total of 18 letters to the election commission, but the ECI has not replied, effectively stalling the investigation.

The Vote Chori Factory: a multi-state scam

In addition to the Aland case, Rahul Gandhi referred to a similar scam in Maharashtra’s Rajura assembly, calling it the “same scam in Rajura assembly.” He noted that while the Aland case focused on “deletions,” the Rajura scam involved “additions.” The press conference highlighted “6850 fake online additions” in Rajura using “fake names, fake addresses.” This was presented as evidence that the “same vote chori factory” was operating across different states with different tactics.

Election Commission of India must stop protecting Vote Chors.

They should release all incriminating evidence to Karnataka CID within 1 week. #VoteChoriFactory pic.twitter.com/Abiy1OHLQP

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 18, 2025

Rahul Gandhi’s allegations against the Election Commission

Addressing the media, Rahul Gandhi briefed the story from Aland. He alleged that “the one who’s deleting votes, the one whose vote is being deleted, both don’t know about it.”

He asserted that the use of mobile numbers from outside states and the lack of response from the ECI proved a coordinated effort.

He further alleged that “CEC Gyanesh Kumar is protecting Vote-Chors (theft)” and that “The Chief Election Commissioner of India is protecting those who have destroyed Indian democracy.”

He ended his press conference with a final plea, suggesting that “people from within ECI (officials) are now coming forward with inside information.” This was not just a demand for information; it was a challenge to the integrity of an institution that is the bedrock of India’s democracy.

CID probe and challenges in investigation

The case was handed over to Karnataka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which soon uncovered a meticulously planned operation. The thousands of forged Form 7s were submitted online through the ECI’s official platforms: the National Voter Service Portal (NVSP), the Voter Helpline app (VHA), and the Garuda app.

The ECI initially shared a data dump with the CID in September 2023. This included the mobile numbers used to create login IDs on the apps and the Internet Protocol (IP) logs associated with the submissions. But this data only deepened the mystery. Investigators tracked down nine of the mobile numbers. They belonged to people in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, many of whom were digitally illiterate and swore they had never created accounts on any ECI app.

The IP logs presented an even bigger challenge. The culprits had used dynamic IP addresses, which are temporary and assigned to multiple users by internet service providers. The data provided by Telecom Service Providers pointed to IPV4 addresses, with each address linked to over 200 users. This left the CID facing an impossible task, sifting through over 8 lakh potential devices.

Investigation stalled due to concealment of critical data

To cut through this digital fog, the CID identified the need for two specific data points: the Destination IP and the Destination Port. Unlike a dynamic source IP, these details provide a unique digital address for the server that received the application and the specific endpoint of the communication. This information would allow investigators to drastically narrow their search and pinpoint the actual devices used to perpetrate the fraud. This is where the investigation stalled.

CID’s repeated requests ignored by Election Commission

A cache of official letters, six from the CID to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), laid bare the investigators’ mounting frustration. Rahul Gandhi stated that the “Karnataka CID sent 18 letters to the Election Commission,” and the “Election Commission did not reply to the CID’s letter.”

The documents revealed a paper trail of urgent and unanswered requests. In a letter dated February 1, 2025, the CID Investigating Officer states plainly, “During the course of investigation, the IP Logs are provided. On perusal the Destination IP and Destination Port are missing. Therefore, it is requested to direct the concerned to provide the same.” This wasn’t a one-off request. The letter referenced a previous communication from January 15, 2025.

CID letter dated 01.02.205 can be read here

Further letters were sent on February 15 and February 25, each one repeating the exact same plea for the missing data.

CID’s letter to CEO, Karnataka on 15.02.2025 can be read here

CID’s letter to CEO, Karnataka on 25.02.2025 can be read here

The letters also reveal deeper concerns about the security of the ECI’s own applications, with the CID posing pointed questions about the existence and implementation of OTP/Multifactor authentication on its platforms—questions that have allegedly gone unanswered.

Confidential records further show that the Karnataka CEO’s office has been diligently forwarding these urgent requests to the ECI headquarters in New Delhi. Communications on this matter were sent on February 4, 2025.

Karnataka CEO’s letter dated 04.02.2025 can be read here

Again, on March 14, 2025, explicitly asking the ECI’s ICT division to provide the information sought by the CID. Yet, the data remains elusive, and the investigation remains frozen.

CEO, Karnataka’s letter to ECI dated 14.03.2025

Background: discovery of the conspiracy

The alleged conspiracy first came to light in the politically charged weeks of February 2023. B.R. Patil, a senior Congress leader, received a disturbing tip. A local Booth Level Officer (BLO) discovered a startling online application to delete a voter’s name, a Form 7, had been filed to remove her own brother from the electoral rolls.

He was a known supporter of Patil’s, and he had made no such application. “The application was made in the name of another voter in the same village, who was also not aware of it. This tipped us off,” said Patil, who had narrowly lost the 2018 election by just 697 votes.
What started as a single fraudulent form quickly snowballed into a deluge. An on-ground verification ordered by the Aland Returning Officer, Mamata Devi, scrutinised 6,018 Form 7 applications. The findings were staggering as only 24 were genuine.

The remaining 5,994 applications were forgeries, a systematic attempt to wipe legitimate voters off the list. An FIR was filed, and an investigation was launched to find the masterminds behind this digital conspiracy. The evidence pointed to a sophisticated operation using “automated filing of online EC forms, Mobile numbers from outside Karnataka, and Targeting Congress votes.”

Notably, the forged applications to delete the names of both Barabayi and Ali were filed in the name of Suryakant Govin, a 67-year-old retired college principal. Govin was shocked to learn his identity had been hijacked. “There were nine applications made in my name to delete voters… I don’t know how the miscreants did it,” he explained. “While my other credentials, including EPIC number and photo are correct, phone numbers are different in each application. None of them belong to me,” The Hindu reported on September 7, 2025.

This pattern repeated itself across the constituency. The credentials of the first or second voter on a local list were frequently misused to file deletion requests for others. Entire families were targeted, as was the case with Veeranna Honashetty, a retired policeman, who discovered applications to delete eight votes in his household, including that of his wife, Revamma. The targets, Patil alleges, were overwhelmingly his supporters, as reported

In light of these allegations and the stalled investigation, Rahul Gandhi laid down a clear demand that “Gyanesh Kumar should stop protecting vote chors.” He demanded that the ECI must release all incriminating evidence related to the Aland, Rajura, and Mahadevapura cases to the Karnataka CID within one week.

Related

Bihar SIR: 65 Lakh electors flagged for deletion, SC said “if there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in”

Bihar 2025 Election: EC drops parental birth document requirement for 4.96 crore electors and their children in Bihar

Bihar: Sinister move by ECI as ‘intensive’ revision of electoral roles set to exclude vast majority of legitimate voters

The post “Vote Chori Factory”: Rahul Gandhi accuses ECI of protecting electoral fraud, demands action in 7 days appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Cyrus Behramji Puranafurniturewala
The Dazzling Den by the Sea
Colaba, Mumbai

August 15, 2025

To

Hon’ble Rahul Gandhi,
Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha,
New Delhi.

Subject: Multiple Voter IDs Are My Democratic Right

Dear Rahul, 

Cyrus Behramji Puranafurniturewala here, Colaba’s czar of vintage teak and a chap who’d polish Modi’s kurta buttons if asked. 

You might recall my previous missive, where I skewered your Lok Sabha manifesto with the sharpness of a carpenter’s chisel. As a pen-pal to global bigwigs like Donald Trump and our own Esteemed Leader, I like to believe that my musings on democracy and rosewood almirahs carry some weight. 

But today, I’m positively peeved, Bro Rahul. 

Your August 7 voter list fraud tamasha poured cold water on my polyelectory parade, and I won’t have it!

You’re out there waving voter lists thicker than my Aunt Deliz’s recipe book, crying “chori” over 1,00,250 dodgy votes in Mahadevapura. 

Gurkirat Singh Dang had four EPIC numbers, Shakun Rani is doubling as a “first-time voter” at age 71 and 68 voters are residing at a Whitefield brewery! Isn’t that exciting and spicy like a Parsi Dhansak? So why the long face? 

For chaps like me, this polyelectory or the art of casting multiple votes under sundry aliases isn’t fraud; it’s just democratic disco! Your exposé feels like an assault on my right to project new identities! I demand my right to vote multiple times under different identities!

Look here, Bro, you have had a Thali, haven’t you? You would have enjoyed the rich variety of currys, dals, pickles, sweets, rice and rotis, packed in one Thali. We similarly crave to be many different personas in our daily lives. 

By day, I’m a son, a husband, a vintage furniture aficionado; by night, a dreamer of rakish personas. A philanderer, a party crasher, or that uncle who lectures the kids about “sanskaar” while sneakily gorging away extra jalebis. 

Some of us graduate to epic roles: a chaiwala turned global statesman, a godman turned yoga guru despite a murky past, or a neta who morphs from a rabble-rouser to a ribbon-cutter. The paanwala desires to be a real estate baron, the village sarpanch is secretly dreaming of being a mining magnate, the humble bank clerk is craving a Swiss bank account! 

Speaking for myself, I yearn to play Pritam Mewani, the suave Gujarati tycoon bagging airports and ports with a wink to the powers-that-be, or Anthony Gonsalves, the lady-killer serenading Colaba’s belles, or Percy Mody, the escape artist vanishing to the Caribbean with a billion dollar bank loan, leaving only a whiff of sandalwood cologne. 

I seek voteversatility to allow me to vote as each of these avatars. Why do you seek to clip my wings? Your fuss about fake addresses such as “House No. 0,” or 80 voters in a 10 sq. ft. room, or a hip name like “ilsdfhug” for a father’s name misses the point. It’s not rigging; it’s kick ass creativity, like naming my 1920s lamp “Art Deco Dazzler.” 

And those 10,452 voters crammed into one address? That’s just a voter mela, like all my aunties piling into my vintage 1962 Fiat to go to a wedding feast. You claim a crore new voters sprouted in Maharashtra faster than monsoon weeds. Fabulous! Its democracy’s dhansak, and I want seconds. 

Why shouldn’t I vote as Cyrus B. Puranafurniturewala in one booth, Cy P. Wala in another, and “Teak Tycoon” at a third, with addresses like “3B, Sea Breeze,” “That Posh Pad by the Irani Café,” or “Flat Overlooking the Sea, Colaba”? My voter ID photos could sport disguises such as a moustache for Pritam, shades for Anthony, a fake beard for Percy. It’s Bollywood style polyelectory!

Instead of demanding CCTV footage or digital voter lists, why not demand a Ministry of Multiple Identities? Imagine a grand office issuing voter cards to every deserving dreamer, working hand-in-glove with the Ministries of Home, Finance, and Fantasy to ensure we all get to play our parts. I’d queue up for IDs as Pritam, Anthony, and Percy, voting for progress, panache, and a quick getaway. 

This Independence Day, Rahul bro, please champion my freedom to be whoever I fancy: a tycoon, a heartthrob, or an absconder, whenever and wherever I please. Don’t let the Constitution’s stuffy rules sand down my democratic dazzle!

So, please defuse your “atom bomb” of proof and join the Masti of Multivotery. Let’s make polling booths as lively as the Colaba flea market, where every alias is a steal and every vote a new swagger. Your dimples deserve a smile, not a scowl, as we dance through this voter ID vaudeville.

With the warmest salutations and in fervent expectation of propitious tidings,

Cyrus Behramji Puranafurniturewala

P.S. If you spot me voting thrice, it’s just Percy Mody practicing for the Caribbean Cha-cha-cha!

Related:

A Cooperative Housing Society “embraces” the Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047

When Women Led the Defense of the Constitution

A Satirical Plea, Dripping with Envy, to President Xi Jinping of China

The post Cyrus Seeks a Right to Multiple Voter Ids appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Gandhi, in a detailed press conference held at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, described the alleged irregularities as a systemic subversion of Indian democracy, claiming “massive-scale electoral fraud” or vote chori (vote theft) had taken place. He called this an “institutional crime against the Constitution.”

Key allegations and claims

The ‘Atom Bomb’ evidence

• Gandhi declared that the Congress has unearthed hard evidence of voter list manipulation after a six-month internal investigation.
• He asserted that 1 lakh fraudulent votes were cast in the Mahadevapura assembly segment of the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency of Karnataka alone.

Maharashtra Election: An alarming spike

• Congress began suspecting vote rigging after the 2023 Chhattisgarh elections, but their fears were confirmed in Maharashtra (2024).
• Over one crore new voters were added to Maharashtra’s electoral rolls in just five months—more than the total added in the preceding five years.
• Gandhi highlighted a suspicious surge in voter turnout after 5:30 PM, and the ECI’s refusal to release CCTV footage from polling booths, by unexpectedly changing rules to block access. (December 2024)
• “Why destroy evidence if nothing went wrong?” Gandhi asked, implying deliberate alteration of age old transparency driven laws/rules to prevent scrutiny.

Bangalore Central: A Case Study in ‘Vote Chori’

Focusing on the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency, Gandhi said the Congress had anticipated a win based on internal surveys, but lost narrowly:

Margin: 32,707 votes

INC led in 6 out of 7 assembly segments, except Mahadevapura, where it lost by a staggering 1,15,586 votes.

Findings from Mahadevapura:

Congress’s detailed audit revealed:

Gandhi alleged that voters were registered multiple times—in the same constituency, across different states, and even using non-existent or zeroed addresses.

Example:

• 68 voters registered at a brewery (“Biere Club”).
• One voter, Shakun Rani, was registered twice in two months with slightly altered details and both entries cast votes. Ironically this woman voter (a mid-70 year old) was registered in the Form 6 batch of voters that are the ‘new voter’ category in ages 18-25 years!

Exit Polls vs Final Results: The growing mismatch

Rahul Gandhi further questioned:

• Why does anti-incumbency seem to affect every party except the BJP?
• Why are exit and opinion polls consistently off the mark in BJP’s favour?
• He noted similar suspicious swings in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

In Haryana:

• Congress lost 8 seats by a combined margin of only 22,779 votes—out of over 2 crore votes cast.

Nationally:

• BJP won 25 Lok Sabha seats with margins under 33,000 votes.
• “That’s all Modi needed to stay in power—just 25 seats,” Gandhi said.

Denial of Digital Voter Rolls: A deliberate barrier

Gandhi revealed that the ECI refused to share machine-readable voter rolls, instead providing physical documents that:

• Were over 7 feet tall when stacked.
• Could not be scanned using OCR (optical character recognition).
• Made manual verification virtually impossible.

“This is by design,” Gandhi alleged. “If the EC gave us electronically readable (searchable) digital data, we’d analyse it in 30 seconds. But they gave us deliberately un-scannable formats to stall scrutiny.”

Call for judicial oversight and constitutional accountability

• Gandhi called the EC’s actions a violation of its constitutional duty to safeguard elections.
• He urged the judiciary to intervene, declaring: “This is no longer just about one party’s loss. It’s a threat to the very foundation of Indian democracy—where every citizen gets one vote.”

He warned that the entire electoral process is being choreographed, facilitated by media hype, multi-phase polls, and an opaque EC.

Conclusion: A crisis at the heart of Indian democracy

Rahul Gandhi’s allegations go beyond partisan politics—they strike at the core of India’s democratic framework. If even a fraction of what he claims is true, it suggests that the electoral process, the one institution that legitimises political power, is compromised through a mix of bureaucratic opacity, voter list manipulation, and denial of digital transparency.

The Congress’s evidence-heavy exposé raises urgent questions:

• Why are electoral rolls being altered on such a massive scale without scrutiny?
• Why is the Election Commission refusing to provide machine-readable data, as required for transparency?
• Why were CCTV records from sensitive polling periods destroyed or withheld?

These are not just technical lapses—they are constitutional red flags. The principle of “one person, one vote” is not merely an administrative guideline; it is the very foundation of the Republic. If institutions tasked with protecting democracy instead facilitate its erosion, the implications are grave—not just for one election cycle, but for the future of electoral legitimacy in India.

The presentation given by Rahul Gandhi may be viewed here.

Related:

SC to ECI: Explain alleged irregularities in deletion of 65 lakh voters from Bihar’s draft electoral rolls

Bihar’s SIR process reveals an exercise of illegitimate powers, ECI forcing district machinery to resort to unethical practices: CCG’s Open Letter

Non-Electors Within Electors: ECI reports over 61 lakh potential exclusions

Principles of secret ballot, free will compromised, electronic surveillance a possibility with Voting APP introduced by the ECI: Expert

Memo to ECI: Make Voter’s Form 17Cs list accessible on Commission website, clean up existing, technologically messy EVS structure, say citizens

The post Rahul Gandhi alleges ‘Vote Chori’ in 2024 polls, accuses BJP-ECI nexus of systematic electoral fraud appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Speaking outside Parliament, today, August 1, he said, “We have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft. Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you,” Gandhi said while talking to the media outside the parliament. Without naming specific individuals, Gandhi issued a stark warning to those within the Commission, saying, “You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. We will find you wherever you are, even if you are retired.”

A video of the statement by leader of the opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi may be viewed here

वोट चोरी करने वाले याद रखें- बख्शा नहीं जाएगा pic.twitter.com/SkFiZt7M08

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 1, 2025

Explosive allegations by Rahul Gandhi against ECI

Amid the continued, sustained and vociferous protests by the INDIA bloc against Bihar SIR in the parliament, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the opposition conducted an independent investigation after the recent election results and found proof that would reveal ECI’s involvement in voter theft.

“After the results of the Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha elections, we had our suspicions. Those only deepened after the Maharashtra Assembly polls — especially when we saw that 1 crore new voters had suddenly been added to the final voter list. That’s when we realised the Election Commission wouldn’t act. So, we launched our own six-month investigation. And what we uncovered is nothing short of an atom bomb. Once it explodes, the Election Commission will have no place to hide,” Rahul Gandhi said.

RG’s sustained campaign, June 2025 and before

Earlier this year, on June 7/8 and then again June 26, 2025, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also stepped up his accusations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the alleged “rigging” of Maharasthra Assembly elections, questioning its silence on the matter, even as officials of the poll body said it had written to Gandhi for a meeting to discuss all issues pertaining to polling but there was no response from him. On June 7, in an op-ed article, Gandhi had alleged that between the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, there was an increase of 31 lakh electors. He emphasised that in the five-month period between the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly elections, there was a leap of 41 lakh electors, referring to this spike as fake voters.

Thereafter, on June 26, quoting from an investigation by the independent news portal Newslaundry, the leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha put out a fresh post on X based on an article by a news website about the lack of mandatory checks in the increase in electors in Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ constituency.

“In Maharashtra, CM’s own constituency, the voter list grew by 8% in just 5 months. Some booths saw a 20-50% surge. BLOs (booth level officers) reported unknown individuals casting votes. Media uncovered thousands of voters with no verified address. And the EC? Silent–or complicit. These aren’t isolated glitches. This is vote theft. The cover-up is the confession. That’s why we demand the immediate release of machine-readable digital voter rolls and CCTV footage”, Gandhi wrote. This post was viewed by 3.1 million viewers.

In Maharashtra CM’s own constituency, the voter list grew by 8% in just 5 months.

Some booths saw a 20-50% surge.

BLOs reported unknown individuals casting votes.

Media uncovered thousands of voters with no verified address.

And the EC? Silent – or complicit.

These aren’t… pic.twitter.com/32q9dflfB9

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 24, 2025

Rahul Gandhi has been consistently been raising the issue of voter manipulations by the Election Commission of India in public fora.

महाराष्ट्र में जनादेश छीना, अब बिहार में मताधिकार – तरीका नया, साज़िश पुरानी।

हम इन संविधान-विरोधी ताक़तों को बेनक़ाब करते रहेंगे – जनता और युवाओं के साथ मिलकर मुंहतोड़ जवाब देंगे। pic.twitter.com/tE1XD7VUPy

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 9, 2025

The ECI had responded. In its letter to Gandhi titled “Invitation for an interaction with the Commission” dated June 12, the Commission said: “We presume that any issue regarding conduct of elections would have already been raised through election petitions filed in the competent court of law by the INC candidates. However, if you still have any issues, you are welcome to write to us and the Commission is also willing to meet you in person at a mutually convenient date and time to discuss all issues. A convenient date and time may be communicated in this regard.” 

August 2-25, Rahul Gandhi’s renewed “warning”

Today, Friday, August 1, after his explosive claims, Rahul Gandhi issued a stern warning to the Election Commission officials, stating that even if they were retired, they wouldn’t be spared.” Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. Wherever you are, even if you are retired, we will find you,” Gandhi said.

The Election Commission has also responded to the allegations.

दिये गये बयान भ्रामक, तथ्यहीन और धमकाने वाले हैं।#ECIFactCheck

विस्तृत रूप से नीचे दिए गए इमेज में पढ़े https://t.co/Mc5wsBzhDL pic.twitter.com/NdTd8NM5jD

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) August 1, 2025

Controversy over Bihar SIR

Members of Parliament from the INDIA bloc parties had announced their protest in front of Makkar Dawar in Parliament on Friday, demanding a discussion in both Houses on special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.  A joint letter has also been submitted to the Speaker, Lok Sabha, Om Birla, underlining this request today. Yesterday, Thursday, July 31, the INDIA bloc parties, in a unanimous decision at their meeting, resolved to intensify their protests against the ongoing SIR both inside and outside Parliament. Within parliament, threatened by a determined opposition, the ruling party used armed para-military personnel to prevent some members of parliament storming into the well of the Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha today. UNPRECEDENTED

Marshals (or CISF personnel ) pre-empetively barricade Well. AITC, DMK & AAP MPs BARRED from entering the Well. Never seen anything like this before. So scared to discuss SIR-vote chori. ModiShah, INDIA will fight U to the finish.
See U Monday

— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) August 1, 2025

Members of United Opposition front, INDIA write to Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha urging for a special discussion on the ongoing ‘Special Intensive Revision’ of voters list. pic.twitter.com/inW6W4pqMg

— Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) August 1, 2025

The INDIA bloc’s protest came as the Election Commission was scheduled –and did– publish the draft electoral rolls of Bihar on Friday.

Related:

Bihar 2025 Election: EC drops parental birth document requirement for 4.96 crore electors and their children in Bihar

Who orchestrated APPs failures, the FM and her ex-FS or the ECI?

VFD’s draft reports points to “electoral manipulation and irregularities” in Haryana and J&K 2024 assembly elections

The post ‘Election Commission involved in vote theft’: Rahul Gandhi repeats charge, now drops ‘atom bomb’ ahead of Bihar poll, also says ‘won’t spare you’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Two Views, Leader of the Opposition (LoP Rahul Gandhi) & Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis

A recent issue that has re-emerged after a year of the Lok Sabha 2024 polls is the issue of non-transparency around the conduct, polling and data release of the November 2024 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections. Rahul Gandhi’s article was published on June 7, 2025 and received Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s multiple responses. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has, relatively, not been at the forefront of rebutting the allegations.

Rahul Gandhi writes: Match-fixing Maharashtra, June 8, 2025

Devendra Fadnavis replies to Rahul Gandhi: Rejected by people, now he rejects people’s mandate, June 9, 2025

One can discuss many of the issues raised (including the questionable claim that the NDA made the process of appointment to the Election Commission of India (ECI) “more transparent (!!!)” given that the ruling coalition in the Centre hurriedly brought in a law to nullify a Supreme Court judgement of November 2023 including the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the selection process. But here, this note will discuss the elementary lapses (or anomalies) in data presented by the Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis.

In a nutshell, he has been selective and faulty and preferred to keep mum on data points inconvenient to the ruling party.

Dr. Pyara Lal Garg, Former Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh is the expert who provided the basis for mathematical extrapolations is one of the key experts with Vote for Democracy and he has probed both articles. VFD presents this preliminary data:

1. First of all, the issues mostly emerge out of the failure of the ECI to act as per its own law and procedures.
2. Thereafter, the refusal to put in public domain the procedural steps of registering new electors form 6 and deletion of names on complaint by others on Form 7.
3. Safe custody of the voting apparatus.
4. The amendment of rules to the detriment of transparency, fairness and impartiality.

Dr Garg: Devendra Fadnavis IE June 8, 2025 has been trying to play with figures which are not sourced from ECI official records

1. LOK SABHA

2014-19 Lok Sabha: Increase in Voters is 78.78 lakh Voters NOT 63 lakh

2009-2014 Lok Sabha: 78.45 lakh Voters were added NOT 75 lakh Voters

2004-2009: One Crore Voters were Added (correctly stated). However the exact figure is 99.42 lakh Voters being added

2019-24 Lok Sabha Elections: 40.80 Lakh Voters were added

Source 1: Election Commission of India

Source 2: Maharashtra Government website

Source 3: Maharashtra Government website

Devendra Fadnavis: “Between 2014 and 2019, 63 lakh new voters were added; from 2009 to 2014, 75 lakh new voters were added; and from 2004 to 2009, 1 crore new voters were added. This means that nothing extraordinary happened in 2024”.

Would the CM of Maharashtra Like to give his sources?

2. VIDHAN SABHA

In year 2004 (from Lok Sabha 2004 to Vidhan Sabha elections 2004) increase in voters is by 29.53 lakh

In year 2009 (from Lok Sabha 2009 to Vidhan Sabha elections 2009)  increase in voters is by 30.14 lakh

In year 2014 (from Lok Sabha 2014 to  Vidhan Sabha elections 2014) increase in voters is by 27.29 Lakh

In year 2019 (from Lok Sabha 2019 to Vidhan Sabha elections 2019) increase in voters is by 11.61 Lakh

In year 2024 (from Lok Sabha 2024 to Vidhan Sabha elections 2024) increase in voters is by 40.80 lakh

Source: ECI Statistical Reports for concerned years concerned house

Would the CM of Maharashtra care to give his sources?

3. Polling Percentages November 2024, Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections

The hike in the last hour of polling is a hike in percentages from 5.82 percent per hour to 7.83 percent per hour it is 2 percent hike: This hike amounts to a hike in 65.97 lakh Votes in absolute numbers (Extrapolated from ECI data).

Even if the same number is divided between all 1,00,186 booths the same turns out to more than 65 votes per hour  whereas normal polling per hour on average including brisk polling is 56.5 votes.

Is the figure by DF not a high number?

Moreover, one fails to understand that if the percentage of voting figures at 5 pm could be uploaded by ECI at 6.14 pm then who or what prevented the ECI to upload the Percentage of Voter Turn-Out at 6 PM? The ECI has uploaded the Voter Percentages of 11.45 pm uploaded at 11.53 pm.

Devendra Fadnavis in his lengthy and convoluted defence has failed to explain why in the simultaneously held second phase of Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha polling, these (questionable) phenomena were not observed in which polls there was only only a 0.86 percent increase between 5 pm and 11.45 pm on day of polling. Incidentally, the NDA lost the elections there!

Fadnavis is factually wrong when he has quoted the “5 PM figure of the second phase of Lok Sabha 2024 polls for Maharashtra at 5.00 pm”. The fact is that the ECI has not uploaded the State-wise voter turnout on the day of polling till date. ECI has only published and aggregate 60.96 percent of polling for all the Parliamentary Constituencies taken together, Even the hiked figure of 66.71 percent  uploaded on 30.04.2024 is for all the constituencies and not for Maharashtra alone.

Fadnavis is factually wrong because the ECI has to date never declared the 5 pm figure of voting: in the Lok Sabha Polls, the first release of figures by the ECI was for 7 pm or after that till 7.45 pm.

Devendra Fadnavis: “The claim that the voting percentage suddenly increased is a huge joke. To understand how the percentage rose in the last hour, one must look at the hourly voting rate. The average polling rate throughout the day was 5.83 per cent per hour. So what new information are you revealing by stating there was a 7.83 per cent increase in the last hour? Is Rahul Gandhi unaware that 5 pm to 6 pm is also a polling hour, and everyone present in the queue at the booth by 6 pm is allowed to cast their vote? ”

Fadnavis’ Imagination not Facts:

The number of Polling Booths in Maharashtra are 100186 and the figure quoted by DF in the non fact checked article in Indian Express of 1.427 Lakh is creation of his own design.

Fadnavis is again wrong on Votes polled after 6 pm: the ECI, has to date, never released any such figure (quoted by Fadnavis) at 1770867—If Fadnavis is in possession of data that is NOT in the public domain, that speaks volumes for the both the Institution in question (ECI) and the Chief Minister. He has further distributed the total hiked votes between all the polling stations equally which is against all the statistical principles by any stretch of the imagination.

Fadnavis has failed to explain that if as per his own calculation all the voters standing in queue had cast vote with in 18 minutes 23 seconds after the end of scheduled time then why did ECI not post those final figures of 11.45 PM?

Who is playing with figures and transparency, Fadnavis or ECI?

Fadnavis has conspicuously (maybe intelligently) kept mum on the fact raised by Rahul Gandhi that the Number of Voters are even more than the TOTAL adult population of 18 and 18+ !!!

Fadnavis has wrongly given the Figures of Young Voters in Maharashtra at 2646608 contrary to the figure given by ECI which is 22.21 LAKHS as on 20.11.2024 vide No. ECI/PN/163/2024.

Devendra Fadnavis: Moreover, this didn’t just happen in Maharashtra. In the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout figure given at 5 pm was 60.96 percent, which was finalised at 66.71 percent the next day. The increase was 5.75 percent. But are you going to hide that fact because you won that election? Previously, the final voting figures would come late at night; now, the 5 pm figure is released, and the final figure comes the next day. Here, Rahul Gandhi claims that the increased voter count was limited to 12,000 polling stations across only 85 constituencies, and that most of these seats went to the NDA’s tally. The calculation for this is also in the Loksatta article from December 3, 2024. The number of total votes cast after 6 pm was 17,70,867. Based on the day’s average voting rate, 97,103.32 votes were cast per minute across 1.427 lakh polling stations. Therefore, if we calculate the average for the votes cast after 6 pm, the additional time taken was only 18 minutes and 23 seconds.

The basic issues for citizens, Vote for Democracy still are:

1. Videography of Voters in queue after scheduled poll time must be released and made public by the ECI
2. Videography of the number of slips distributed and announced for those standing in queue must be released and made public by the ECI
3. Videography of number of votes polled at the end of scheduled poll time must be released and made public by the ECI
4. Videography of announcement of votes polled at close of polls must be released and made public by the ECI
5. Videography of sealing and transport of EVMs must be released and made public by the ECI
6. Videography of custody of machines all the time must be released and made public by the ECI
7. Proof of Form 6 and 7 all procedure adopted as laid down for addition of voters and deletion of voters must be released and made public by the ECI.

Courtesy: Indie Journal

The post VFD’s rebuttal of the Fadnavis’ Claims on Electoral Manipulation Allegations appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The FRA 2006, enacted under the UPA-I government, was a watershed moment in recognising the rights of forest-dwelling communities by breaking away from the colonial-era policies that placed forests solely under government control. For the first time since Independence, the Act aimed to correct historical injustices by empowering Gram Sabhas (village councils) to determine land rights and putting an end to the arbitrary control exercised by the Forest Department. However, despite its promise, the on-ground reality remains bleak. The AIUFWP’s letter highlights multiple reasons for the failure of implementation, including:

• Lack of political will among state governments to enforce the FRA.
• Deliberate neglect by administrative officials, who refuse to acknowledge claims under the Act.
• Continued harassment of forest-dependent communities by the Forest Department, which, instead of recognising their rights, evicts them and falsely prosecutes them under various laws.
• Deliberate rejection of individual and community claims by authorities without proper consideration.
• Failure to inform forest-dwelling communities about their legal rights, leaving them vulnerable to dispossession.

By submitting the letter to Gandhi on April 2, the AIUFWP had specifically pointed out that despite repeated submissions, no decision has been made on the community claims filed by the union. A list of these pending claims has been attached to the letter, underscoring the extent of bureaucratic delay.

Given these persistent challenges, the AIUFWP is demanding urgent intervention and has requested a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and representatives from multiple states to discuss the issue in detail. The letter, signed by Sokalo Gond, Chairperson of AIUFWP, makes it clear that without political action, the FRA risks becoming yet another unfulfilled promise for India’s most marginalised communities.

Sokalo Gond was accompanied by Munnar Gond. The meeting took place in Sansad Bhavan.

The complete letter may be read here.

Related:

Adivasi Land Rights Erosion: The effects of the 2023 Forest Conservation Amendment Act

Record number of forest diversion took place in 2023 amidst decline in spend of CAMPA funds, MoEF data reveals

All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) lists out their demands before the Lok Sabha election 2024

With less than two weeks for polling, how concerned are national parties on land and forest rights for Adivasis?

The post AIUFWP submits letter LoP Rahul Gandhi, calls for action as forest rights remain in limbo appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Indian National Congress had proposed the names of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph for Chairperson and recommended the names of Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Akil Abdulhamid Qureshi as Members of the NHRC stating that, both of whom have exemplary track records in upholding human rights. However, states the Dissent Note, “the dismissive approach adopted by the majority of the Selection Committee in today’s meeting towards these considerations is deeply regrettable.”

The dissent note dated December 18, 2024 has been made public. It outlines in detail the points of order.

Dissent Note

The meeting of the Selection Committee for selection of Chairperson and Members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was held at 1.00 PM on 18 December 2024 at G54, Parliament House.

Without prejudice to the names of the Chairperson and members approved by the Selection Committee, we respectfully record our dissent on the following grounds:

Firstly, the selection process adopted by the Committee was fundamentally flawed. It was a pre-determined exercise that ignored the established tradition of mutual consultation and consensus, which is essential in such matters. This departure undermines the principles of fairness and impartiality, which are critical to the credibility of the Selection Committee. Instead of fostering deliberation and ensuring a collective decision, the Committee relied on its numerical majority to finalize the names, disregarding the legitimate concerns and perspectives raised during the meeting.

Secondly, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a vital statutory body tasked with safeguarding the fundamental human rights of all citizens, particularly those from oppressed and marginalized sections of society. Its ability to fulfil this mandate depends significantly on the inclusiveness and representativeness of its composition. A diverse leadership ensures that the NHRC remains sensitive to the unique challenges faced by various communities, especially those most vulnerable to human rights violations.

We proposed the names of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph for the position of Chairperson, keeping in mind both merit and the need for inclusivity. Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, a distinguished jurist from the minority Parsi community, is renowned for his intellectual depth and unwavering commitment to constitutional values. His inclusion would send a strong message about the NHRC’s dedication to representing India’s pluralistic society. Similarly, Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph, a former Supreme Court judge, belonging to minority Christian community, has consistently delivered judgments that emphasize individual freedoms and the protection of marginalized groups, making him an ideal candidate for this critical position.

Furthermore, for the position of Members, we recommended the names of Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Akil Abdulhamid Qureshi, both of whom have exemplary track records in upholding human rights. Justice S. Muralidhar is widely respected for his landmark judgments advancing social justice, including his work on custodial violence and the protection of civil liberties. Justice Akil Abdulhamid Qureshi, belonging to the Muslim minority community, has consistently defended constitutional principles and demonstrated a strong commitment to accountability in governance. Their inclusion would contribute to the NHRC’s effectiveness and its commitment to diversity.

Thirdly, while merit is undeniably the primary criterion, maintaining a balance that reflects the regional, caste, community, and religious diversity of the nation is equally important. This balance ensures that the NHRC operates with an inclusive perspective, sensitive to the lived experiences of all sections of society. By neglecting this critical principle, the Committee risks eroding public trust in this esteemed institution.

Lastly, the dismissive approach adopted by the majority of the Selection Committee in today’s meeting towards these considerations is deeply regrettable. The NHRC’s credibility and effectiveness depend on its ability to embody the diversity and inclusiveness that define India’s constitutional ethos. The names we proposed reflect this spirit and align with the foundational principles of the Commission. Their exclusion raises significant concerns about the impartiality and fairness of the selection process.

The Dissent Note May be viewed here.

Related:

UN-linked body GNAHRI defers accreditation of NHRC India for second term, flags absence of autonomy and diversity

Uttar Pradesh has highest number of cases “closed by the NHRC without reason”: NHRC data

The post INC President Kharge, LOP Rahul Gandhi’s strong dissent note on appointment of NHRC Chairperson appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Historical figures like Jotirao Phule and Bhimrao Ambedkar have highlighted the exploitation experiences of marginalized groups, which led to upper-caste organizations promoting ideas of a glorious Hindu past and the concept of a Hindu nation, drawing from the values propagated in the Manusmriti.

In recent years, particularly under the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a narrative has emerged portraying all castes as equal. RSS ideologues have produced numerous publications that assert an egalitarian history among different castes.

Nevertheless, some RSS leaders attribute the emergence of Dalits and tribal communities to “Muslim invasion” during medieval history. Bhaiyyaji Joshi, a prominent figure within the RSS, argues that the category of ‘shudras’ was never synonymous with untouchables in Hindu scriptures, claiming that so-called “Islamic atrocities” gave rise to this social stratification. He elaborates that historical foreign invaders forced Hindu communities into degrading labor, perpetuating a caste engaged in tasks like skinning animals as a punitive measure.

Amidst the rising calls for a caste census, there is an orchestrated effort to recast the caste system in a favorable light, portraying it as a protective structure of Hindu society. An article in the RSS publication Panchjanya, penned by Hitesh Shankar on August 5, 2024, asserts that foreign aggressors failed to dismantle the caste system and that it has been integral to maintaining the well-being of the nation. The piece even references former Bombay Bishop Louis George Milne, suggesting that caste is inherently tied to both social structure and religious identity.

Shankar’s article posits that just as missionaries once criticized caste, the Indian National Congress (INC) – likened to the colonial East India Company – similarly perceives it as a societal impediment. It suggests that those invaders could not breach the “caste fortress,” instead relegating upper-caste individuals to menial tasks, an assertion the author argues lacks historical grounding.

Ambedkar famously denounced the Manusmriti, while the RSS promotes its values of caste inequality

However, this perspective is rife with inaccuracies. The caste system, as delineated in the Manusmriti, predates foreign invasions and laid the groundwork for practices of untouchability and manual scavenging, steeped in notions of purity and pollution. Works like the Narada Samhita and the Vajasaneyi Samhita explicitly describe roles and duties tied to caste hierarchies, including tasks involving sanitation.

Dr. Ambedkar, a key advocate for the rights of the oppressed, viewed caste as a Brahminical constriction on society and called for its complete eradication. In stark contrast to the pro-caste sentiments expressed in the RSS’s narrative, many radical Dalit scholars and activists identify the caste system as a grave ailment of Hindu society.

While the call for proportionate representation and a caste census is viewed as a threat by Hindu nationalists led by the RSS, its roots can be traced back to the historic Poona Pact between Gandhi and Ambedkar. The caste census eventually found its place within the Indian Constitution, even as opposition efforts have historically manifested through violence, such as the riots in Ahmedabad in the 1980s.

The claim is that the INC is merely a vestige of the East India Company and its founder, A.O. Hume, is a distortion of history. Key figures in the INC, from Lokmanya Tilak to Gandhi, actively resisted British colonial rule. Grassroots organizations, such as the Madras Mahajan Sabha and the Bombay Association, sought platforms to voice their demands, eventually aligning with the INC to champion the aspirations of a burgeoning national consciousness.

The INC evolved to call for ‘Total Independence’ and the ‘Quit India’ movement. Its agenda included social justice principles championed by Ambedkar, a stark contrast to the RSS’s hierarchy-defending ideology.

In conclusion, the divergence between Ambedkar, who fought for the equitable ideals embedded in the Indian Constitution, and the RSS, which advocates for Hindu nationalism and caste hierarchy, remains profound. Ambedkar famously denounced the Manusmriti, while the RSS promotes its values of caste inequality.

Ambedkar’s role in drafting the Indian Constitution stands in opposition to the long-standing resistance from the RSS, reflecting deep ideological divides in contemporary Indian society.

Author is Political commentator

Courtesy: CounterView

The post Seeking caste census? Sharp rise in move to portray caste as Hindu protective shield appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Nobody has done more to advance this cause than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of India’s most beloved and polarising political leaders. Traces of the “Hindutva” ideology can always be found at the breakfast table conversations, an idea that has been deeply ingrained in the minds of well-to-do (financially) Hindus by a multitude of right-wing political parties. The conversation then goes on to engage in casual Islamophobia, which again is due to the idolisation of PM Modi, who has not once but multiple times asserted that Hindus are superior to every other religion in the country and the others are mere “infiltrators”.

Hindu nationalism is a political ideology that dates back to the 19^th=early 20th century. It encompasses a broad range of groups but at its core is a belief that Indian national identity and culture are inseparable from the Hindu religion. This ideology has taken a very toxic role in the present, which has not only reinforced the belief that Hindus are superior but has also led to a series of hate speeches, communal riots, and discrimination.

PM Modi’s political rhetoric frequently invokes themes of Hindu unity and strength, portraying his government as the defender of Hindu interests and promoting the idea of Hindutva. PM Modi has effectively used cultural symbols and narratives to reinforce Hindutva ideals. This includes promoting Hindu festivals, rituals, and historical figures and inaugurating the Ram mandir at Ayodhya! (Yes, it is the same temple that led to the Godhra incident and subsequently the Gujarat carnage of 2002).

Every single political discussion at the breakfast table leaves me disheartened. Initially, I ignored these comments, and my role was that of a passive listener to the conversation. However, I then realised that my reading and writing about hate speech and communal violence in the country, criticising several people in the course of doing so, and not being able to change the minds of my family itself serves as a stark reminder that there is a long way to go before the country truly embraces all that the Constitution of India stands for.

What does the Constitution of India Stand for? The Constitution enshrines the principles of justice—social, economic, and political. It strives to create a society where justice prevails, ensuring that the marginalized and the vulnerable are protected and empowered. It stands as a bulwark against discrimination, promoting affirmative action to uplift those historically oppressed. It envisions a nation where communal harmony prevails, where diversity is celebrated, and where every individual feels a sense of belonging. It seeks to unite its people in the pursuit of common goals, transcending regional and cultural differences.

The right to equality enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution, only makes it to the breakfast table while talking about reservations and how they serve no purpose. The middle-class and upper-middle-class Hindus believe that reservations compromise meritocracy, and opportunities should be based on merit rather than caste or class, this thought process stems from a place of privilege. The right to profess one’s religion only makes it to the breakfast table while their religion is under attack. The right to free speech only makes it to the table, when one is very rightly criticizing the government and somehow that’s problematic. The stringent bail provisions on laws like the UAPA, PMLA, or the anti-conversion laws are never spoken about. The concept of innocent, until proven guilty, comes into play only when PM Narendra Modi is accused of the Gujarat riots and not when I want to speak about how it has been 4 years since Umar Khalid has been languishing behind bars.

These rights don’t make it to the table when there are mass riots taking place, when the right-wing spews hate speech with every sentence they say, and when the reservations somehow end up serving them.

Being proactive in these breakfast table conversations has taught me one thing, and that is patience. Since I am the youngest one seated at the table, my opinions are not taken seriously enough and are often laughed at. Every time I try to reason with them, I am met with loud voices that I can’t surpass, these voices are blindfolded with delusion, and deeply rooted in the idea of Hindutva. This radical ideology seeks to redefine Indian culture strictly in terms of Hindu values, marginalizing and discriminating against religious and ethnic minorities such as Muslims, Christians, and Dalits. It involves historical revisionism, reinterpreting India’s past to glorify Hindu achievements while vilifying contributions from other communities.

My dad said to me, I will talk about the questionable things PM Modi has done only if you can recognize the good, he has done for the country. I laughed, waiting to hear the good. He pointed to the GDP of the country. What good is the GDP, when the rich get richer, and the schemes introduced by the government don’t even reach the poor?

The Indian economy grew around 8.2 percent (this official calculation is not proportionate to the population that is GDP per capita) in the previous financial year, following two consecutive years of high growth. It even bagged global accolades after it grew at a comparatively faster rate than its peers.[1] Typically, this would be regarded as an electoral advantage for the incumbent government. A majority of people should have experienced improved living standards, and the ruling party would likely have emphasized this in their campaign. However, neither occurred. In India, a high rate of self-employment generally reflects a weak link between GDP growth and the generation of formal jobs. This underscores the ongoing challenge of converting economic growth into better employment quality, revealing a critical gap between the nation’s economic output and the availability of good jobs.

Moreover, is the GDP of a country enough to justify the amount of lives lost across different riots that have taken place, is it enough to justify the amount of people languishing in prisons because they disagreed with the government, is it enough to justify trying to turn India into a Hindu nation when the preamble itself uses the word “secular”, is it enough to serve only the creamy layer of the country and forget about the ones that actually need upliftment?

The number of lives lost in the infamous Gujarat riots totaled 1900 plus lives, whereas the number of lives lost in the Delhi riots totaled 53. The number of political dissenters languishing in jails amounts to 20 people at the least. (Only in connection with the Delhi riots)

Every single person, who is well-read recognises what the government is doing to silence dissent, seldom do people worry about it because the government is serving the majority and the rich. The fact that Modi and hundreds of politicians attended the Ambani wedding reeks of plutocracy. India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani has doubled his wealth within the first four years under the Modi government. Between 2014 and 2019, his wealth more than doubled –from about $23 billion to $55 billion. This means that Mukesh Ambani accumulated more wealth in the five years of BJP rule than all the wealth he made and inherited in the entire 58 years of his life before Modi became Prime Minister. The rise of Adani in the business world seemed to have gone hand in hand with Modi’s ascent to power in Gujarat in 2001. By the time Modi ended his tenure in Gujarat, Adani was a billionaire with a net worth of $2.6 billion. And, the fruits of this friendship continued to bear after Modi’s shift to Delhi. Adani’s net worth more than quadrupled to $11.9 billion – in just the first four years of Modi’s rule.

At the breakfast table, it is often pointed out to me that I am being blinded by one side and that I am not able to appreciate the two sides of the coin that exist. However, this question always crosses my mind, how is it possible that I am blinded by one side when the mainstream media just reports the side that makes the government look its best? How is it possible that I am blind to the mainstream media? How is it possible that the BJP government in total since 2014 having spent over 7000 crore rupees in advertising and PR itself has not reached me? How is it possible that a man who has made a brand out of himself, has not shown me his side of the story?

Every media outlet that has tried to raise its voice against the BJP has faced some sort of legal intervention. Be it NDTV or Sabrang. Between 2014 and 2019, 4000 crore rupees were spent on advertisement and PR (taxpayer’s money of course), whereas between 2019 and 2024, 3000 crore rupees were spent, bringing the total to a whopping 7000 crore rupees.

The question now remains; are they blind, or am I? The mainstream media, advertising, and PR have reached them, but the websites and magazines that showcase the other side of the coin have failed to reach them through their morning news channels and their morning newspapers.

The talk about Rahul Gandhi fumbling at press conferences or any other political leader is always laughed at the breakfast table and used as a testament to the fact that Narendra Modi is the only one who makes any sort of sense in the country. What is often overlooked is, since the past 10 years, that is, 2014 to 2024, the Prime Minister of the country has not been a part of even a single press conference, where he can hear the questions of the people, he is supposedly elected to take care of. Modi did face a press conference – only one – at the end of the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign, five days before the results. However, he only addressed the media briefly and then diverted all questions to Amit Shah, his closest confidante who was then the president of the Bhartiya Janata Party. It is very easy, to come up with a speech prepared, address what one thinks needs to be addressed, make a couple of jokes, spew some hate speech, make sure the majority is happy with you, and then leave the stage. What is difficult is being able to take dissent and answer the questions that really matter.

Tens of thousands of questions, unanswered. Tens of thousands of political dissenters, languishing behind bars. Tens of thousands of crores of taxpayer’s money, lost and yet we idolise these political leaders.

This is not just the story of my breakfast table; this is a story of all upper-class Hindus of the country’s population’s breakfast table. This is not just the story of a breakfast table; it is the story of every political conversation of well-to-do classes taking place in the country. The 7000 crore rupees spent on PR has worked at its finest and brainwashed every sane, well-read person. The money has been used to make everyone forget the Gujrat riots, the Delhi riots, and many more.

When Voices go unheard at one’s own house, how will the voices be heard in a country whose leader does not know what the values of the country are and is actively trying to imbibe the “Hindutva” ideology in a secular nation?

(The author is a fourth year law student at the BML Munjal University)

[1] Editor’s Note: The issue of the manner in which the Modi regime calculates GDP without linking it to per capita status of the population is deceptive and dangerous as it in facts covers up the stagnancy in grown since 2011 and the huge economic disparities that have only got worse. See https://youtu.be/BfEffNzdeYw?s=BPpVcmDO9DYpGMdp

The post The breakfast table at a well-to-do Hindu household appeared first on SabrangIndia.