New Delhi, Nov 19:
A group of 272 eminent citizens, including 16 former judges, 123 retired bureaucrats — among them 14 ex-ambassadors — and 133 retired officers of the armed forces, have issued a strongly worded open letter condemning Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party for what they describe as a deliberate attempt to “discredit and weaken” the Election Commission of India (ECI).
In the open letter, the signatories accused the Congress leadership of repeatedly casting doubts on the credibility of democratic institutions whenever electoral outcomes do not align with their expectations. The group stated that such narratives erode public trust and undermine India’s democratic framework.
The former judges and civil servants noted that the ECI has conducted “large-scale, complex elections with professionalism,” and alleged that the Congress Party’s criticism appears politically motivated. They argued that questioning the Election Commission without substantive evidence amounts to “an assault on institutional integrity.”
Several signatories said the Opposition should engage in constructive dialogue rather than “targeting constitutional bodies for partisan gain.” The letter emphasized that national institutions must be safeguarded from what they termed as “reckless political attacks.”
The Congress Party has not yet issued an official response.
