New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi set the Winter Session ablaze on Tuesday with a fiery 20-minute intervention during the debate on “Parliamentary Journey of 75 Years”, transforming the occasion into a full-throated assault on the state of Indian democracy and a seven-point blueprint for sweeping electoral reforms.
Speaking amid thunderous desk-thumping from the Opposition and uneasy silence from the Treasury benches, Rahul declared that “Indian democracy is under its gravest threat since Independence.” He accused the ruling dispensation of systematically capturing institutions, choking Opposition funding through electoral bonds (now struck down), and undermining public faith in the electoral process itself.
The Congress scion demanded immediate restoration of paper ballots, alleging “serious questions” over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). “When the entire world is abandoning EVMs, why is India clinging to them?” he thundered, drawing sharp protests from BJP members.
Rahul’s seven-point charter included:
A nationwide caste census.
Strict enforcement of expenditure limits for all parties.
State funding of elections.
Complete ban on corporate donations.
Independent appointment of Election Commissioners.
33% reservation for women in Assemblies and Parliament.
Bringing the Election Commission under a collegium-like system.
Slamming the “One Nation, One Election” proposal, he warned it was a step towards “one party, one leader” rule. “Elections are the oxygen of democracy. Simultaneous polls will suffocate regional voices,” he asserted.
Treasury benches countered that Rahul was deflecting from Congress’s own historical failures. Yet, his speech electrified the Opposition, with INDIA bloc members rising in unison to cheer.
As the House adjourned amid uproar, one thing was clear: Rahul Gandhi has thrown the gauntlet for a no-holds-barred battle on electoral integrity.