Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition is after the people behind what CEC Gyanesh Kumar did and might even forgive him.
Hindustan Times
12 October, 2026, 06:40 pm
Last modified: 12 October, 2026, 06:48 pm
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today (12 October) asked chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and become an approver, claiming he is not the "main vote-theft criminal". He added that they are after the people behind what Kumar did and the Opposition might even forgive him. Gandhi said the protests against Kumar will continue and the deployment of heavy security forces and crackdown on protesters proves how the government is trying to protect him.
"Turn approver. You have committed a crime, and frankly you are not the main criminal. You have made a mistake. You are not the mind behind the mistake. We are after the people who are behind what you did," said Gandhi when asked for his advice to Kumar.
"It is very easy for you. Resign and get out of the way. No problem. We might even forgive you because that will be a service to the nation and the Constitution. We know you have been forced by PM [Prime Minister Narendra Modi], home minister [Amit Shah], [National Security Advisor] Ajit Doval, and Mr Adani."
Rahul says understand Gyanesh Kumar's pressure
Gandhi said they understand the type of pressure Kumar faces. "We are forgiving people. We are not cruel…but we will defend the Constitution," he said ahead of the Opposition march to the Supreme Court to file a petition on the alleged vote-theft.