A warning that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar would eventually face justice over what he called "vote chori" dominated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's address in Goa on Sunday, as he also attacked the BJP-led state government over corruption, unemployment and the transfer of land to wealthy industrialists.
Speaking at a rally in Margao, south Goa, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha accused the three of playing distinct roles in a purported scheme to manipulate elections, alleging that Modi planned it, Shah coordinated it and Kumar carried it out.
"There is no confusion anymore. Gyanesh Kumar implements the vote theft, Amit Shah operationalises it, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi does the entire planning from behind the scenes," Rahul Gandhi told the gathering.
He said the Congress would pursue accountability for what he described as an attack on the Constitution.
"PM Modi, Amit Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar will face justice and pay the price for what they have done," he said.
The remarks came as Rahul Gandhi joined the concluding leg of the Congress's 'Goy Rakhon Yatra', a statewide outreach campaign ahead of the 2027 Goa Assembly elections. He walked about two kilometres alongside party workers and leaders before addressing the gathering.
The 27-day campaign covered all 40 Assembly constituencies, with the Congress focusing on land, employment, corruption and the protection of Goa's cultural and environmental identity.
‘Their expiry date is approaching’: Rahul warns BJP leadership
Rahul asserted that the Congress would continue its campaign against the BJP leadership and urged party workers in Goa to concentrate on the upcoming Assembly elections.
"You think about Goa. In Delhi, in a short while, we will deal with Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. You don't need to worry about that. The work is underway; their expiry date is approaching," he said.
"I guarantee you that we are going to deal with Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh- all of them. They cannot escape," he added.
He urged voters to give the Congress a full majority in the 2027 elections and asked party workers to maintain contact with people across the coastal state.
The Congress leader maintained that the BJP leadership was under pressure over the Opposition's campaign against electoral irregularities.
"In Delhi, we have put them under pressure. Gyanesh Kumar cannot sleep at night; Narendra Modi cannot sleep, Amit Shah cannot sleep, because they know that sooner or later, the Congress party will ensure that justice is done," Rahul Gandhi said.
He also questioned why no defamation case had been filed against him over his accusations concerning the Prime Minister's role in electoral manipulation.
Rahul Gandhi said he was facing more than 45 defamation cases, including those filed by people associated with Modi and Shah.
"They are afraid that if a case is filed over the allegation of vote theft, then it will become a full-fledged legal matter and they will get entangled in it," he said.
He maintained that the Congress had evidence of electoral manipulation in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam.
"Votes of opposition were removed, votes were added in favour of the ruling party, and voters were shifted between districts and brought in from other states," he alleged.
The Congress leader urged party workers to remain vigilant during elections and described them as guardians of the Constitution.
Rahul attacks ‘Goa model of corruption’, questions land transfers
Turning to state politics, Rahul accused the BJP government of enabling the transfer of land belonging to farmers and economically weaker residents to wealthy outsiders.
He questioned the cancellation of the regional master plan, maintaining that the decision had opened the way for land to be handed over to people associated with those in power.
"Goa is a paradise, one of the most beautiful places in the country, with a great culture," he said, while accusing the government of allowing the state's land and resources to be exploited for financial gain.
Rahul described corruption in Goa as a model that politicians elsewhere could study.
"Earlier, there was the Gujarat model of Narendra Modi. Here, there is a special Goa model of corruption," he said, calling for the system to be dismantled.
The Congress leader also accused the Union government of favouring industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani through a system of preferential access to contracts, land and infrastructure projects.
"This is their system. This is how their system works: give billionaires money, give them contracts, give them land. In return, the billionaires do their marketing," he alleged.
He maintained that the arrangement amounted to an exchange of economic benefits for political publicity and support.
Unemployment, education and student protests
Rahul also attacked the BJP government over unemployment, alleging that Goa had the highest joblessness in the country and that young people were increasingly leaving the state in search of opportunities abroad.
"They have destroyed the entire system and dismantled the employment structure," he said.
He accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of influencing appointments in universities and criticised the use of force against student protesters in Delhi.
"India used to have a world-class education system earlier, but now pellet guns are being used against student protesters," Rahul Gandhi alleged.
He said students had been raising concerns about electoral irregularities, unemployment, rising education costs and inflation.
"This country does not belong to any one organisation. This country does not belong to the RSS. This country does not belong to the BJP. This country belongs to the people of India," he said.
Rahul argued that Goa's residents, rather than political leaders, should have control over the state's future and access to education, healthcare, employment and a protected environment.
He also took a swipe at Modi's political image.
"Have you observed? Have you noticed? Where is the 56-inch chest of Modiji these days? He cannot stand in front..." Rahul said.
The Congress leader concluded by urging party workers to sustain their campaign against the BJP beyond the yatra.
The 27-day campaign, which concluded on Sunday, was presented by the Congress as an effort to protect Goa's land, environment, heritage and identity while expanding the party's grassroots presence ahead of next year's elections.