India, Oct. 8 -- Forty-two former judges and retired veterans of constitutional office have issued an open letter expressing "grave" concern over what they describe as a sustained campaign to undermine the Election Commission of India (ECI), the judiciary and other constitutional institutions.

The letter, dated October 7, comes amid an escalating political confrontation over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Opposition allegations of "vote theft". Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have accused the poll panel of manipulating voter rolls and have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The ECI has rejected the allegations, while protests ...