Politics · India · 5 hrs ago
Rahul Gandhi accuses India’s government of undermining democracy
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led government of undermining democracy at the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad.
The Congress MP said India ceased to be a democracy in 2014 and that institutions had been taken over by what he called fascists.
He criticised the deletion of voters from electoral rolls through a process known as SIR.
Gandhi cited Maharashtra election results, claiming the same alliance received the same number of votes in two elections while seven million voters were added before the later poll.
He alleged that the added voters helped the BJP win the state assembly election.
He also accused the government of using institutions against opposition politicians and criticised ties between business and politics.
Gandhi said his party would seek to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but gave no specific next steps beyond that pledge.
Rahul Gandhi said India ceased to be a democracy in 2014 and accused the governing BJP-led NDA of taking control of institutions.
Speaking at the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, he criticised electoral manipulation and voter deletions through the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
He cited Maharashtra election results, alleging that seven million new voters were added between the Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
Gandhi also accused the government of using institutions against opposition politicians and criticised what he called a fusion of business and politics.
He apologised to foreign delegates who could not attend the summit after their visas were cancelled.
- Who
- Congress MP Rahul Gandhi made the accusations.
- What
- He accused the BJP-led NDA government of undermining democracy, manipulating elections and using institutions against opposition politicians.
- When
- Saturday, November 14, 2026.
- Where
- Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, India.
- Why
- He cited alleged electoral manipulation, voter deletions, the use of institutions against opposition politicians and a nexus between business and politics.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Gandhi said the Lok Sabha polls that year marked an unprecedented change in India’s electoral system.
Gandhi said seven million new voters were added between the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly polls.
Gandhi addressed the valedictory session of Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad.
- Speaker
- Rahul Gandhi
- Event
- Bharat Summit 2026
- Location
- Hyderabad, India
- Election interval cited
- Three months between the Maharashtra Lok Sabha and assembly polls
- New voters alleged
- Seven million
- Publication date
- November 14, 2026
What people are saying
Later, we discovered and have proven beyond doubt that democracy in India was destroyed in 2014.
We are going to defeat Modi and get rid of him... You can see it on the streets in Delhi and in the fear Modi and Amit Shah have. This already is a done deal.
We ceased to exist as a political formation.
It was not our fault, but it gives you a sense of what we are dealing with within our country.