Rahul Gandhi Accuses RSS of “Capturing Institutions”, Sparks Uproar in Lok Sabha Debate on Electoral Reforms

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : The Lok Sabha on Monday witnessed intense drama and heated exchanges as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp and wide-ranging attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking during a debate on electoral reforms, Gandhi accused the RSS of “systematically seeking to dominate and control India’s democratic institutions.” He also declared that “there is no bigger anti-national act than vote chori.”

Gandhi began by asserting that everything that defines modern India — from Parliament to public institutions — is a direct outcome of citizens’ votes. He then alleged that the RSS was attempting to “capture the very system that emerged from the power of the vote.” His remarks immediately provoked loud protests from BJP MPs, forcing Speaker Om Birla to intervene multiple times and urge members to maintain order.

Elaborating on his charge of institutional capture, Gandhi identified three critical areas — the education sector, investigative agencies, and the Election Commission of India (ECI). He argued that these pillars of democracy were being compromised in a deliberate attempt to weaken transparency and manipulate outcomes.

To substantiate his claims, Gandhi raised three pointed questions. He first questioned why the Chief Justice of India was removed from the selection panel for Election Commissioners. Next, he asked why the government in December 2023 gave “unprecedented immunity” to Election Commissioners. Lastly, he demanded to know why CCTV footage from polling booths is deleted after 45 days. These measures, he argued, “make it easier to influence elections from behind the scenes.”

He went on to accuse the Election Commission of “colluding with those in power to shape the electoral process,” insisting there was a reason the Prime Minister and the Home Minister wanted control over choosing Election Commissioners. According to Gandhi, such moves erode institutional integrity and shift the balance in favour of the ruling establishment.

Gandhi then targeted investigative agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging that bureaucrats were being strategically appointed to pursue political opponents. This, he said, was a key pillar of a broader plan to weaken the opposition and centralise power.

In one of the most dramatic moments of his speech, Gandhi invoked the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. He claimed the RSS “project” began after the Father of the Nation was killed, with an agenda to dismantle his vision of an inclusive and equal India. Treasury bench members strongly objected to this, but Gandhi insisted, “These are uncomfortable truths, but they have to be spoken.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju countered that Gandhi had strayed from the subject and urged Speaker Birla to confine him to the theme of electoral reforms. The Speaker echoed this, reminding Gandhi to avoid sweeping allegations unrelated to the motion.

Continuing his argument, Gandhi alleged that even universities were being brought under ideological influence. He claimed that Vice Chancellors were chosen not for merit or scientific thinking but for alignment with the ruling ideology. This, he said, had direct consequences for democracy, leading to distortions such as election campaigns aligned with the Prime Minister’s availability and irregularities like a “Brazilian woman appearing 22 times” on a voter list in Haryana.

Despite repeated interruptions, Gandhi held his ground, insisting that safeguarding democracy required exposing the systematic “capture of institutions.” While the Opposition endorsed his concerns, the government maintained that the debate should remain focused on reforms to strengthen the electoral system.