Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 30: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the INDIA bloc would ensure that those responsible for allegedly "destroying" Indian democracy are punished, irrespective of their position or seniority.

Addressing the media after an INDIA bloc meeting at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Gandhi said the issue of "vote chori" was the main focus of the discussions.

He alleged that the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had "attacked" Indian democracy.

"The main issue was 'vote chori'. Every party has an opinion that BJP, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Gyanesh Kumar have attacked Indian democracy," Gandhi said.

"This is a personal commitment of all INDIA leaders -- we are going to ensure that the people who have destroyed Indian democracy are punished; it doesn't matter how senior they are, who they are; Indian democracy is bigger than every single person in this country," he added.

Gandhi said there was also a sense among the Opposition leaders that they had been successful in conveying to people that elections were allegedly being "stolen" and that Modi and Shah had "destroyed democracy".

He further claimed that a new sense of resistance, particularly among young people, was emerging against what the Opposition considers wrong in the country.

"There is a new sense of resistance, particularly among young people, that what is happening in India is wrong and needs to be stopped," Gandhi said.

He also described the Opposition leaders as "collective defenders" of the Constitution and said working together was an honour.

"I also mentioned to all the Opposition leaders that they are the collective defenders of the Indian Constitution, and it is an honour for us to work together, and we are confident that over the next few months, we will make serious changes in the country," he said.

The INDIA bloc meeting was held to chalk out a roadmap for nationwide protests against what the Opposition has described as the Election Commission's "flawed and partisan" approach.

The Congress has also demanded the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, maintaining that the "ballot belongs to people of the country".