Rahul Gandhi alleges Arun Jaitley threatened him over farm laws, accuses ECI of voter fraud aiding BJP
New Delhi: Addressing the Annual Legal Conclave 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi made explosive claims: he accused the late BJP leader and former Minister of Law and Justice of India Arun Jaitley of threatening him during the farm laws protest, and launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging its complicity in large-scale voter fraud.
Gandhi recounted a conversation from the farm laws protest era, stating, "Arun Jaitley ji was sent to threaten me. He told me ‘if you continue opposing the farm laws, we will have to act against you.’ I looked at him and said, ‘I don't think you know who you are talking to.’"
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Beyond personal anecdotes, Gandhi escalated his criticism of institutional functioning. Referring to the Congress party’s investigation into the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter list exercise, he accused the ECI of orchestrating "vote theft" for the BJP. He said the Congress has “open-and-shut proof” gathered over six months and likened its potential impact to an “atom bomb” that could “shake the foundation of the ECI.”
“Votes are being stolen. The Election Commission is enabling this theft. And it is being done for the BJP. When we reveal this, you won’t see the Election Commission in this country anymore,” Gandhi said.
He warned ECI officials—current and retired—of future consequences for what he described as “treason.”
ECI and BJP push back
In response, the ECI dismissed Gandhi’s allegations as “baseless,” “wild,” and “deplorable.” In an official statement, it said Gandhi had ignored multiple communications from the commission, including a letter and an email dated June 12, 2025, and had not raised any concerns through official channels.
“Despite daily threats, ECI staff must continue working impartially. Mr Gandhi has not submitted a single complaint. His threats are deeply irresponsible,” the ECI noted.
The commission also fact-checked Gandhi’s claim regarding alleged irregularities in Karnataka during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, calling his statement “misleading.”
Meanwhile, proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till August 4 amid opposition sloganeering over the Bihar SIR issue. Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected demands for discussion, citing the matter's sub judice status.
INDIA bloc MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, protested outside Parliament, holding banners claiming the SIR exercise was a “war on democracy.”
Some BJP leaders have mocked Rahul Gandhi, pointing out that Arun Jaitley died in 2019, while the farm law protests began only after the laws were passed in 2020. They argue this timeline makes Gandhi’s claim questionable. However, Gandhi has not clarified whether he was referring to earlier farm reform efforts, like the 2017 model acts or the 2019 Chief Ministers’ committee, which took place before Jaitley’s death and were part of the lead-up to the 2020 farm laws.
Published: 02 Aug 2025, 12:40 pm IST
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