Gehlot slams FIR against Rahul, Priyanka: 'Is India becoming like China, Russia?'
Synopsis
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot has invoked China, Russia, and North Korea to describe what he sees as India's democratic slide, after FIRs were filed against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra following a protest over the INDIA bloc's alleged inability to meet Election Commission officials. With Modi and Shah yet to publicly respond, the confrontation is widening into a full-blown institutional flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
Ashok Gehlot criticised the FIR against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Jaipur on 7 October 2026 .
Gehlot compared India's democratic trajectory, in his view, to political systems in China , Russia , and North Korea .
The FIR follows a protest near Akashvani Bhavan after around 300 INDIA bloc MPs allegedly failed to secure a meeting with Election Commission of India officials.
Gehlot alleged that Congress General Secretary K.C.
Venugopal was subjected to objectionable police conduct during the same developments.
The former Chief Minister questioned the reported silence of PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah amid nationwide protests.
Gehlot warned that democratic institutions are moving in a 'dangerous direction' and described the matter as a national concern for citizens and future generations.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, sharply criticised the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, warning that democratic institutions in the country were being steadily weakened. Speaking to reporters in Jaipur, Gehlot questioned whether India's democracy was heading in the direction of what he described as authoritarian political systems in countries such as China, Russia, and North Korea.
Gehlot's Remarks on the FIR
Reacting to the developments, the former Chief Minister said such actions by the government and administration were not unexpected, remarking that 'they can do anything.' He argued that the registration of FIRs against senior opposition figures such as Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with what he described as objectionable police conduct towards Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, reflected the direction in which the country was heading.
Gehlot stressed that this should not be viewed solely as a matter concerning one party or a handful of leaders. He said it was a matter of serious concern for citizens across the country, particularly young people and the future of the next generation.
The Protest and the Election Commission
Gehlot elaborated on the circumstances surrounding a protest near Akashvani Bhavan involving Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. According to the former Chief Minister, the protest was intended to send a message to the Union government and the public after around 300 Members of Parliament from the INDIA bloc sought to meet the Election Commission of India (ECI) but were allegedly unable to do so.
Drawing on his roughly two decades of parliamentary experience, Gehlot noted that the Parliament Annexe is a highly secure location, and argued that had the three Election Commissioners met the INDIA bloc MPs there, it would have offered an opportunity to transparently address allegations of 'vote theft' and concerns around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Instead, he alleged, that opportunity was missed, the leaders were detained, and FIRs were subsequently filed against them.
Questions Over Modi and Shah's Silence
Gehlot also questioned the reported absence of public statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the developments. With protests taking place at several locations across the country, he said the response and accountability of the country's top leadership should be clearly visible.
According to Gehlot, the lack of a visible response from the Prime Minister and the Home Minister raises serious questions about the functioning of the present political system.
Broader Democratic Concerns
Gehlot warned that democratic institutions in India were gradually being weakened and described the situation as moving in a 'dangerous direction.' This comes amid heightened political tensions following recent developments in Delhi and the filing of the FIR against the two Congress leaders. Critics from the opposition argue that the use of law-enforcement machinery against political opponents reflects a broader pattern, while the government has not publicly commented on the matter as of this report. How the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Union government formally respond is expected to shape the next phase of this political standoff.
Point of View
But it points to a genuinely significant institutional dispute: opposition MPs allege they were denied access to the Election Commission, and now face FIRs for protesting that denial. The BJP government's silence — neither defending the police action nor addressing the ECI access allegations — leaves the narrative entirely in the opposition's hands, which is rarely a winning position. The SIR controversy around electoral rolls remains unaddressed in the public domain, and that unresolved question is precisely what gives this episode its staying power beyond routine political sparring.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was an FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra?
The FIR was filed in connection with a protest near Akashvani Bhavan in Delhi. According to Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, the protest took place after around 300 INDIA bloc MPs were allegedly unable to meet Election Commission of India officials to raise concerns over 'vote theft' allegations and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
What did Ashok Gehlot say about Indian democracy?
Gehlot said India's democratic institutions were being gradually weakened and questioned whether the country's democracy was being undermined in a manner comparable, in his view, to political systems in China, Russia, and North Korea. He described the situation as moving in a 'dangerous direction.'
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) refers to an Election Commission of India process for revising electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have raised allegations of irregularities, described by them as 'vote theft,' and sought a meeting with ECI officials to address these concerns — a meeting they claim was denied.
Why did Gehlot question PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah?
Gehlot questioned the reported absence of public statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah amid nationwide protests. He argued that with demonstrations occurring across the country, the response of the country's top leadership should be clearly visible, and their silence raises questions about the functioning of the present political system.
Who else was affected apart from Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi?
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal was also reportedly subjected to what Gehlot described as objectionable police conduct during the developments. Gehlot cited this alongside the FIRs against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as evidence of the government's approach toward opposition leaders.
