A group of 272 prominent citizens, including retired judges, bureaucrats, and armed forces officers, has issued an open letter criticizing Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, for what they perceive as an attempt to discredit the Election Commission of India (ECI). The signatories, numbering 272, include 16 retired judges, 123 former bureaucrats (among them 14 ambassadors), and 133 retired armed forces officers. Some of the prominent signatories include former Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid, former RAW chief Sanjeev Tripathi, and former IFS Laxmi Puri.
The letter condemns Gandhi's accusations against the ECI, particularly his "vote chori" (vote theft) allegations, deeming them "unsubstantiated accusations" made in place of "genuine policy alternatives". The citizens argue that Gandhi's actions undermine the integrity of constitutional bodies and threaten public servants carrying out their duties. They describe the Congress leader's "atom bomb" remarks as "unbelievably uncouth rhetoric". Gandhi had publicly stated that he possessed evidence that would expose the ECI's involvement in vote theft, promising an "atom bomb" revelation that would leave the Election Commission with "no place to hide". However, the signatories point out that Gandhi has not filed any formal complaint supported by a sworn affidavit to substantiate his claims.
The open letter accuses Gandhi and the Congress party of launching "systematic and conspiratorial attacks" on the ECI's integrity and reputation. The signatories suggest that these attacks are part of a pattern, following previous criticisms of the Indian Armed Forces, the Judiciary, and Parliament. The letter describes these criticisms as an "attempt to drape political frustration in the garb of institutional crisis". The letter also claims the Congress party is in denial about their poor performance in Bihar.
The signatories express their support for the Election Commission, highlighting its importance as a constitutional body. They argue that the ECI is being unfairly targeted with "venomous rhetoric". The letter was issued amidst increasing attacks by Rahul Gandhi on the Election Commission and the Systematic Internal Revision (SIR) process.
