Berlin, December 23 (NationPress) Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has once again launched a pointed critique against the BJP, reiterating his claims of 'vote chori' while asserting that India is currently experiencing a 'full-scale assault' on its institutional integrity.

Speaking at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, on the theme 'Politics Is The Art Of Listening', Gandhi alleged that the upcoming Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2024 were 'not fair'.

He mentioned that the Congress party had formally communicated its concerns to the Election Commission of India but received no feedback in return.

'We fundamentally believe that there is a problem with the electoral machinery in India. Additionally, there is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework,' Gandhi stated.

He accused critical institutions of being compromised, asserting, 'When you examine our intelligence agencies, the CBI, and the ED, they've been weaponized.'

Highlighting what he termed as selective actions by central agencies, Gandhi remarked, 'Consider the number of cases the ED and the CBI have against BJP members. The answer is zero for them, while the opposition faces numerous cases.'

According to Gandhi, this scenario has fostered an environment where institutions are failing to fulfill their designated roles.

'From our perspective, the Congress perspective, we contributed to building the institutional framework. We have never viewed it as our own framework; that's not how the BJP perceives it,' he explained.

He accused the ruling party of treating institutions as mere tools for political gain.

'The BJP perceives India's institutional framework as their own. They wield it as a means to consolidate political power. Just observe the financial disparity between the BJP and the opposition; it’s a 30:1 ratio.'

Gandhi emphasized that the Opposition must proactively strategize to address these systemic challenges.

'Merely stating, 'there's an issue with the elections' is insufficient. We will confront it and establish a method of opposition resistance that will prevail.'

In response to inquiries about the INDIA bloc, Gandhi stated that alliances are often viewed solely through an electoral lens. He called for a broader interpretation of the coalition.

'Examine it from a different angle. Not all parties in the INDIA bloc align with the fundamental ideology of the RSS. That's the essence. You can ask any member, and none will affirm belief in the RSS ideology.'

He acknowledged existing differences among coalition partners but stressed the importance of unity in crucial situations.

'We are firmly united on this matter. However, tactical contests will continue,' Gandhi assured.

'But when it comes to uniting the Opposition, you can see it every day in Parliament. We stand united and will challenge the BJP on the laws we oppose. This fight extends beyond mere elections; it is a battle for an alternate vision of India.'

Citing recent electoral successes, Gandhi stated, 'We have secured victories in Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, raising concerns about the fairness of elections in India.'

He claimed that the Congress party had provided substantial evidence supporting its assertions.

'I have conducted press conferences in India where we have clearly demonstrated that we won the Haryana election and that we believe the Maharashtra elections were unfair.'

Reiterating his accusations against the Election Commission, Gandhi stated, 'A full-scale assault is underway against our country's institutional framework. We posed direct questions to the Election Commission regarding a Brazilian woman appearing 22 times on the voting list in Haryana... We received no response.'

'We firmly believe that there is a systemic issue with India's electoral machinery.'