Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge convened a meeting with leaders of the National Students Union of India, Indian Youth Congress and Seva Dal at the party's Indira Bhavan headquarters on Thursday, New Delhi. The gathering aimed to rally the party’s youth wing against the government’s push for a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. General secretary K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present, underscoring the leadership’s commitment to the cause.
In a sharp address, Gandhi declared that only “lions” remain in the party after the “cowards and greedy” had departed. He singled out former ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Ghulam Nabi Azad, accusing them of abandoning the party’s core values. Kharge, meanwhile, posted a photo of the meeting on X, adding that the youth and frontline organisations stand firm against police crackdowns and government overreach.
The SIR controversy has sparked a week‑long protest movement, with Congress leaders demanding a halt to the revision and a fair audit of the electoral rolls. The Election Commission’s decision to tighten the rolls comes amid concerns about potential disenfranchisement of certain voter groups. Congress has called for a nationwide demonstration to pressure the EC and to defend democratic rights.
Among the attendees was a young volunteer, Meera Patel, who said she felt “renewed hope” after hearing Gandhi’s words. “They’re not just talking; they’re standing with us,” she told reporters. The party’s general secretary also urged unity among the youth wing, promising to provide logistical support for upcoming marches.
The next step, according to Kharge, is a central committee meeting scheduled for Friday to decide on the scale of the protest. The Congress also plans a mass rally in New Delhi on June 1, hoping to draw national attention to the SIR issue and to push for a transparent electoral process.