Congress leader and #LeaderOfOpposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, delivered a fiery speech during the ‘Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh’ (Save Constitution Rally) on Friday, accusing the #BJP of orchestrating a conspiracy to manipulate the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, much like the alleged voter manipulation seen during the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls.
Addressing a large gathering, Gandhi launched a scathing attack on both the BJP and the #ElectionCommissionOfIndia, claiming that constitutional institutions, which are meant to safeguard democracy, are now functioning under the influence of the ruling party at the Centre.
“Just like the elections were stolen in Maharashtra, a similar conspiracy is brewing in Bihar. Attempts are being made to steal the mandate of the people once again. The #ECI is supposed to work in the interest of the people, not in favour of the BJP,” Gandhi asserted.
He stated that the INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties of which Congress is a key member, held discussions on Thursday to devise strategies to safeguard Bihar’s democratic process from such manipulation.
Gandhi pointed to discrepancies in the voters’ list during the Maharashtra elections, where over one crore new voters were allegedly added without clarity. “We asked the ECI for explanations, but they remain silent,” he said.
Highlighting a broader ideological issue, Gandhi accused the BJP of favouring a handful of capitalist elites at the expense of the common citizen. “The Indian Constitution doesn’t say the country belongs to Adani, Ambani or billionaires. But the BJP government works only for these 5-6 rich individuals,” he alleged, intensifying his #CronyCapitalism charge.
Citing an example from Odisha, he controversially claimed that even the sacred Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri was halted for industrialist Gautam Adani and his family. “Odisha is now being used as a model state by the BJP to gift natural resources to corporate giants,” Gandhi alleged.
He also spoke of his recent visits across Odisha, where he interacted with farmers, women, and marginalized communities, hearing their grievances first-hand. He stated that tribal land and forest rights were being systematically taken away without proper compensation or legal recourse.
Gandhi specifically criticized the state’s failure to implement the #PESAAct (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996), which is crucial in protecting tribal rights over ‘Jal, Jangal, Zameen’ (water, forest, and land). He accused the Odisha BJP government of facilitating corporate land grabs at the expense of tribal communities.
“Forests and land belong to the tribals, and Congress will fight to ensure these rights are protected. We enacted the Tribal Bill and PESA, and we will enforce them wherever needed,” he said, assuring support to tribal populations.
Rahul Gandhi also voiced grave concerns over women’s safety in Odisha. He claimed that over 40,000 women have gone missing in the state and accused the government of inaction. “Fifteen women are being raped every single day, yet the government watches silently,” he said, demanding accountability.
Calling for a #CasteCensus, Gandhi stated that such a survey is essential to understand the social and economic realities of various communities in Odisha. He pointed out that the Congress government had already successfully conducted a caste census in Telangana and promised to replicate it in Odisha if given the mandate.
Referring to a statewide strike by drivers, he alleged that the BJP had orchestrated the agitation to disrupt the Congress rally. “The BJP pressured the drivers’ union to sabotage this event. But our determination prevailed, and the union agreed to pause the strike. The state government must now engage with the protestors and fulfil their legitimate demands,” he said.
In his closing remarks, Gandhi pledged unwavering support to all those suffering under oppression or state apathy. “Whoever is being suppressed — whether it is a tribal, a woman, a labourer or a farmer — Congress will stand with them, and I will stand with them,” he concluded.
#RahulGandhi #SaveConstitution #BiharElections #TribalRights #WomensSafety #ElectoralIntegrity
