Eminent citizens, including Judges and retired bureaucrats, have written an open letter condemning the Congress Party and the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for their attempt to tarnish constitutional bodies like the Election Commission of India. The letter has been signed by 272 eminent citizens, consisting of 16 Judges, 123 retired bureaucrats, including 14 Ambassadors and 133 retired armed forces officers.

 

 

In the letter, they have emphasised that the citizens of the country should stand firmly with the Election Commission, not out of flattery, but out of conviction. They said society should demand that political actors stop undermining this vital institution with baseless allegations. It said, Civil society reaffirms its unshakeable faith in the Indian Armed Forces, the Indian Judiciary and Executive, and specifically the Election Commission, in its integrity, and in its role as guardian of democracy.