In a sharp exchange in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's criticisms regarding the Election Commission (EC), its selection panel, the immunity granted to its members, and the destruction of CCTV footage after 45 days. Shah's rebuttal included the remark, "Samajh Ka Koi Injection Nahi Hota," which translates to "There is no injection for understanding". This came after Gandhi accused the BJP of turning the Election Commission into a "tool for vote theft".
Gandhi's accusations and Shah's response are the latest developments in an ongoing debate over electoral reforms and the independence of key democratic institutions. Gandhi has been a vocal critic of recent changes to election laws, raising concerns about the impartiality of the Election Commission.
Specifically, Gandhi questioned the removal of the Chief Justice of India from the Election Commission selection panel, suggesting that the government, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, are trying to influence the selection of election commissioners. He argued that the absence of the CJI allows the government to handpick individuals who would be favorable to the ruling party. Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition, is part of the selection panel but claims his voice is not heard because he is outnumbered.
Another point of contention is the near-total legal immunity granted to the Election Commission ahead of the 2024 polls. Clause 16 of The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, grants immunity to the CEC and ECs from any legal action for decisions taken while in office. Gandhi argued that this law allows election commissioners to "get away with whatever they want to do". He warned that the Congress party would change the law retroactively to hold them accountable.
Gandhi has also criticized the decision to destroy CCTV footage within 45 days of polling. He rejected the explanation that this was a data issue, saying the real issue was stealing elections. He demanded that the government take back the law that allows destruction of CCTV footage after 45 days. The Election Commission has clarified that the rule for access to video footage from polling was revised to ensure such footage would be accessible only to courts adjudicating election petitions. They stated that open access could breach voter privacy and create security risks, making voters vulnerable to pressure, discrimination, and intimidation.
In addition to these criticisms, Gandhi has made several suggestions for election reforms. These include providing machine-readable voter lists to all parties one month before elections and providing greater access to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He also presented data alleging voter fraud in the Karnataka Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections and claimed a centralized and mass deletion of voter names. The election commission and the BJP have rejected these claims and demanded proof.
Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi submitted a formal note of dissent during a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding appointments to the Central Information Commission (CIC) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). He objected to the names proposed by the government and recorded his disagreement in writing.
Amit Shah, in his response, blamed the Congress leadership for repeated election losses, predicting a future internal reckoning. He also accused Congress of deflecting responsibility for electoral setbacks by accusing journalists of bias.
