Rahul: Modi, Shah, EC Behind 'Demolition of Indian Democracy'

Rahul says rally will defend the “idea of India” and people's right to vote; VCK announces participation from five southern states.

Update: 2026-10-30 09:06 GMT

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav, TMC leaders Derek O'Brien and Mahua Moitra and other INDIA bloc leaders during a press conference, outside Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence, in New Delhi, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. The bloc's "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has been postponed to October 31 due to the rains in the city, Gandhi said on Friday. (PTI Photo)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the BJP-led government of trying to suppress the voices of common people and alleged that people from several states were being stopped from reaching Delhi to participate in the INDIA bloc's protest against the Election Commission.

Addressing a joint press conference with INDIA bloc leaders outside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence, after the postponement of the symbolic impeachment programme, Gandhi alleged that the government was attempting to prevent people from exercising their democratic rights.

#WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "The day after, we have a march to Ramlila Maidan. All the opposition, everybody who wants to come: political, non-political, social, service people, civil society people, journalists. Both the programs are about the demolition of Indian democracy by Narendra Modi, by Amit Shah, by Gyanesh Kumar and his crew in the Election Commission. The Home Minister is trying his best to stop people from coming into Delhi, trying to ensure that our party members, common people who want to come from UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Telangana, Punjab, are being stopped. And they're trying their best..."
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2026

"Our party people and common people are being stopped. You watch what happens at Ramlila Maidan and you will understand what is happening in the country. There is huge anger and pain because millions are being disenfranchised," he said.

Gandhi alleged that the developments reflected the "demolition of democracy" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar through the Election Commission.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the INDIA bloc would organise a 'Chalo Dilli' march and rally on Sunday, inviting everyone who wanted to protect the Constitution to join the programme.

"Both programmes are about the demolition of democracy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his crew," he alleged.

Gandhi also said the opposition bloc had unanimously decided to postpone its planned symbolic 'public impeachment' programme against Kumar from Friday to October 31 due to heavy rain in the national capital.

"By consensus we have decided to postpone today's programme to tomorrow at the same time," he said. Echoing Gandhi's remarks, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said the INDIA bloc was united in its efforts and would win the fight together.

The opposition leaders had met on Thursday to finalise the programme, which was planned at Kharge's residence as a symbolic protest over the alleged "vote chori" issue.

Sources said former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar would chair the proceedings, while Kharge would move the symbolic motion against the CEC. Gandhi was expected to deliver the concluding remarks before the motion was passed.

The Congress and other opposition parties have been demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress had also accused the government of trying to silence the common people after "destroying" the electoral system.