Displaying a video depicting Mogambo’s systematic destruction of institutions and subjugation of an entire country, Gandhi drew a parallel with what he described as the erosion of India’s democratic safeguards under Modi.
BY PC Bureau
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a sharp political attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, using the moniker “Mogambo Modi” to accuse his administration of systematically weakening democratic structures in India.
“Mogambo Modi is destroying democracy,” Rahul Gandhi said, displaying a video depicting how Mogambo, the fictional villain of Mr India, systematically dismantled institutions and consolidated power until the entire country was reduced to subservience. . The event was promoted under its Tamil title, Maanavargalin Kuralat at Island Grounds,
“They are silencing voices as you saw in Delhi. The entire city was shut down, internet was shut down. Police was beating students. BJP released their own ‘goondas’ who were beating and thrashing students,” Rahul said.
Gandhi’s remarks came amid protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raising allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protesters were prevented from reaching Jantar Mantar, the designated venue, amid heavy security deployment. Groups attempted to assemble at different locations across the city.
Delhi Police had deployed around 25,000 personnel, including police and paramilitary forces, ahead of the demonstration. Restrictions were imposed at several metro stations, and protesters were detained as they tried to regroup and raise slogans.
During his address, Gandhi also linked the importance of dissent and questioning to the role of students in a democracy. He argued that curiosity was essential for progress and innovation.
“We said that curiosity comes from your culture, your history, and your land. It is the basis with which you ask questions. Curiosity is also the foundation of your progress. Anything that you ever do, any business that has been built, any country that has been built, any innovation, any art, dance or music. Anything that you do well will always begin as a question that you ask. So, questioning is the foundation of curiosity, questioning is also the foundation of progress,” he said.
He further stated that curiosity gave students the ability to question authority, imagine the future and make choices. Gandhi argued that the Constitution protected citizens’ right to question those in power, while voting provided them a means to seek answers.
The Chennai event formed part of the Congress’s nationwide ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign, which seeks to engage students on issues including examination irregularities, paper leaks, rising education costs, recruitment and unemployment.
We are not going to let Narendra Modi attack Tamil Nadu’s language, history and culture.
He is not going to touch Tamil Nadu.
: LoP Shri @RahulGandhi
📍 Chennai, Tamil Nadu https://t.co/w5b5VwYE5o
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 10, 2026
READ: ‘We Will Not Back Down’: Rahul Gandhi Slams Crackdown
‘Vote Theft’: Gandhi Accuses Ruling Establishment of Hijacking Democracy
Gandhi has intensified his allegations in the controversy over SIR and claims of electoral manipulation. He has accused the ruling establishment of damaging democratic institutions and the Constitution over the past decade and a half, arguing that the alleged irregularities go beyond routine disputes over voter registration.
He has described the alleged electoral wrongdoing as an act of treason and claimed that the opposition has presented evidence from several states. He has also warned that restoring institutions and repairing the damage, if his allegations are borne out, would take years.
The BJP has dismissed the accusations as politically motivated. The specific allegations of large-scale vote theft remain contested and should not be treated as established findings in the absence of an authoritative determination.
