Kishanganj: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission of India on Sunday, accusing them of “stealing votes” in past state elections and claiming that similar attempts were being made in Bihar.
Speaking at a rally in Kishanganj, held in support of the Grand Alliance candidates, Rahul said, “They have formed governments in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh by stealing votes. They are going to do the same in Bihar.” He went on to question the Election Commission’s neutrality, saying, “I have alleged that Modi and the Chief Election Commissioner are stealing votes — and neither of them can deny it, because the allegations are absolutely true.”
In his speech, Rahul repeatedly referred to what he called a “hydrogen bomb” in Haryana, saying that the evidence of manipulation there had “silenced” the ruling BJP. “BJP leaders are voting in two states each. Modi and Amit Shah don’t win elections — they win by stealing votes,” he said.
Framing the Bihar elections as part of a wider ideological struggle, Rahul said, “There is a battle between two ideologies in India. On one side is the RSS, which controls caste, language, and religion. On the other is the Congress and the Grand Alliance, which seek to unite every caste, religion, and community.”
Referring to his cross-country Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul said, “I walked 4,000 kilometres to open a shop of love in the market of hatred. Narendra Modi has hatred in his blood, while I have love in mine. That’s the difference between us.”
He accused the BJP government of deliberately distracting the youth from issues such as unemployment and education. “Ask yourself: why are the youth not getting jobs? How will they study when colleges and universities are closing? Bihar’s youth are working as labourers in other states,” he said.
Rahul also took a swipe at the Prime Minister’s recent remarks on cheap internet data, saying, “Modi ji says data prices have fallen so you can make reels. But will you earn money from reels? When you scroll on Instagram and Facebook, Ambani makes money. They are diverting your attention from real issues like jobs and inflation.”
Reiterating his class-based critique, Rahul said, “They work for Adani and Ambani, while we work for farmers and labourers. We want jobs for the youth and progress for Bihar.”
