Panaji: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged “vote theft”, saying they would face justice and “pay the price” for their actions.
Addressing a public meeting at Margao in South Goa on the concluding day of the Congress’ Goy Rakhon Yatra, Gandhi alleged that the CEC implements “vote theft”, Shah operationalises it and Modi plans it from behind the scenes.
“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,” he said.
Gandhi claimed there were more than 45 defamation cases against him, including cases filed by people associated with Modi and Shah, but no case had been filed against him for alleging that the prime minister was involved in vote theft.
“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.
The Congress leader claimed that his party had proved with evidence that vote theft had taken place in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam.
He alleged that opposition votes were removed, votes were added in favour of the ruling party, and voters were shifted between districts and brought in from other states.
Gandhi urged Congress workers to remain vigilant during elections, saying they were “the guardians of the Constitution” and had a responsibility to expose alleged electoral malpractice.
“In Delhi, we have put them under pressure. Gyanesh Kumar cannot sleep at night; he cannot sleep, Narendra Modi cannot sleep, Amit Shah cannot sleep, because they know that sooner or later, the Congress party will ensure that justice is done,” he said.
The Congress leader claimed that Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar will face justice and will pay the price for what they have done.
Referring to Goa, Gandhi alleged that the state government was taking away land belonging to farmers and poor people and selling it to people from outside the state.
He pointed out the cancellation of an earlier master plan had enabled the government to hand over land to its associates and accused it of exploiting Goa’s natural and cultural wealth for financial gain.
“Goa is a paradise, one of the most beautiful places in the country, with a great culture,” he said, alleging that the state’s land was being taken away and handed over to billionaires.
Gandhi also attacked the state government over unemployment, claiming that Goa had the highest unemployment in the country and that young people were leaving the state to seek opportunities abroad.
“They have destroyed the entire system and dismantled the employment structure,” he said.
Accusing the BJP-led government in the centre of favouring industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, Gandhi alleged that infrastructure projects and other economic opportunities were being handed over to billionaires in exchange for publicity and political support.
“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 said.
Gandhi also accused the Goa government of widespread corruption, describing it as a model that leaders from other states could study.
“Earlier, there was the Gujarat model of Narendra Modi. Here, there is a special Goa model of corruption,” he said, adding that the model had to be dismantled.
On education, Gandhi criticised the alleged use of force against students protesting in Delhi and accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of influencing appointments in universities.
He said students were raising concerns over alleged vote theft, unemployment, the cost of education 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.
Gandhi said Goa belonged to its people and not to the chief minister or ministers, adding that residents should have access to education, healthcare, employment and a protected environment.
Calling on voters to give the Congress a full majority in the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, Gandhi urged party workers and citizens to continue reaching out to people across the state.
“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. 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 Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh — all of them. They cannot escape,” Gandhi added.
He also questioned Modi’s public image, saying, “These days, Narendra Modi cannot even stand in front.”
Gandhi said the Congress would continue its fight against the BJP’s ideology and urged party workers to maintain their efforts after the conclusion of the yatra.
After his arrival in Goa, Gandhi participated in Goy Rakhon Yatra in Margao where he walked along with AICC Goa Desk incharge Manikrao Thakare and other leaders.
