Rahul Gandhi, a key figure in the Indian National Congress party, took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting electoral malpractice by alleging manipulation of voting machines. He claimed that these machines, known as EVMs, hold the essence of power, implying that the ruling government has control over them. Gandhi further asserted that this influence extends to various governmental institutions like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax department.
At the conclusion ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, “There is a word ‘Shakti’ in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti. The soul of the King is in the EVM. This true. The soul of the King in the EVM and every institution of the country, in ED, CBI and Income Tax department. A senior leader from Maharashtra left Congress and cried in from of my mother and said ‘Sonia ji, I am ashamed that I don’t have the power to fight this Shakti. I do not want to go to jail.’ Thousands of people have been threatened like this…”
In a poignant anecdote, Gandhi recounted a senior leader from Maharashtra leaving the Congress party and confessing to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul’s mother and former Congress president, about feeling ashamed for not being able to challenge the prevailing power dynamics and fearing potential legal repercussions. This narrative suggested a climate of intimidation and coercion within Indian politics, where dissenting voices are silenced or coerced into submission.
Gandhi highlighted the concept of “Shakti,” or power, in Hinduism, insinuating that the current government embodies this force and poses a formidable challenge to opposition parties. He lamented the media’s failure to prioritize critical national issues such as unemployment, inflation, and agrarian distress, suggesting a lack of impartiality or a focus on sensationalism over substance.
The Congress leader wrapped up his nationwide tour, termed the “Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,” with a rally in Mumbai’s historic Shivaji Park. This event marked a significant moment in Indian politics, with prominent opposition leaders like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in attendance, signaling a united front against the ruling government.
At Shivaji Park, Gandhi paid homage to the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and visited the memorial of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, acknowledging the historical significance of the venue and the political legacy it represents. The rally served as a platform to galvanize support and rally opposition forces against what Gandhi perceives as the centralization of power and erosion of democratic norms under the Modi government.
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‘The soul of the King in the EVM’: Rahul Gandhi’s sharp attack on PM Modi
