'They will pay the price': Rahul Gandhi warns Modi, Shah and CEC over 'vote chori'

Margao, Goa: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing them of orchestrating 'vote chori' (vote theft) and warning that they would eventually face justice for allegedly undermining India's democratic process.

Addressing a public meeting in Margao after participating in the Congress's 'Goy Rakhon Yatra', Gandhi alleged that the three were working together to manipulate the electoral process. He claimed that the Congress would hold them accountable for what he described as an attack on the Constitution.

"The entire country knows that CEC Gyanesh Kumar implements 'vote chori' and Amit Shah and PM Modi back him," Gandhi said.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha joined Congress workers and party leaders for a two-kilometre march through Margao before addressing the gathering.

In a strongly worded warning, Gandhi claimed that Modi, Shah and Kumar were aware that they would eventually have to answer for their actions.

"...In Delhi, there is a man named Gyanesh Kumar—he cannot sleep at night; he finds no rest. Neither can Modi-ji nor Amit Shah. They know that, sooner or later, the Congress party will hold them to account and ensure justice is served...We are the guardians—the protectors—of the Constitution; that is our sacred duty. By stealing votes, they have attacked the Constitution—they have attacked our sacred duty—and we will not accept this. Listen closely, all Congress workers: Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Gyanesh Kumar will face justice and pay the price for their actions," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader maintained that protecting the Constitution remained the party's fundamental responsibility and accused the ruling establishment of violating democratic principles through alleged electoral manipulation.

"PM Modi, Amit Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar will face justice and pay the price for what they have done," he added.

'Gyanesh Kumar implements vote theft, Modi plans it'

Gandhi went on to describe what he alleged was a coordinated arrangement involving the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Chief Election Commissioner.

According to him, Kumar implemented the alleged manipulation, Shah oversaw its execution, and Modi planned the entire operation.

"...Gyanesh Kumar implements the theft of votes, Amit Shah operationalises it, and Narendra Modi orchestrates the entire plan from behind the scenes. I am facing over 45 defamation cases—cases filed by Amit Shah, by Narendra Modi, and so on. Despite these 45 cases, I continue to state at every opportunity that Narendra Modi steals votes. Yet, no case has been filed against me specifically for this claim. Do you know why? Because they fear that if a case were filed—a case specifically regarding the theft of votes—it would trigger a full-blown legal process in which they themselves would become entangled..." Gandhi said.

The Congress leader also referred to the defamation cases filed against him, claiming that despite repeatedly accusing Modi of vote theft, he had not faced a specific legal challenge over those allegations.

He suggested that initiating such proceedings would expose those he accused to judicial scrutiny.

The allegations were made amid continuing political controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has drawn criticism from opposition parties and triggered protests demanding greater accountability from the Election Commission.

Gandhi's latest remarks further intensified the confrontation between the Congress and the ruling BJP over electoral transparency and the functioning of constitutional institutions.

Rahul Gandhi raises concerns over treatment of student protesters

During his address, Gandhi also criticised the treatment of students participating in demonstrations, contrasting the country's earlier educational achievements with what he described as the present situation.

He said India once possessed a world-class education system but was now witnessing the use of pellet guns against student protesters.

The Congress leader's remarks came as student organisations and political groups continued to raise concerns over voting rights, electoral roll revisions and restrictions on demonstrations.