India, Nov. 19 -- A group of 272 retired judges, former bureaucrats and ex-members of the armed forces hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday for targeting the Election Commission with his "vote chori" claims and expressed concerns over the "assault" on Indian democracy by targeting foundational institutions.

In the letter, titled "Assault on National Constitutional Authorities", the signatories attacked Rahul Gandhi for his "unbelievably uncouth rhetoric" against the Election Commission and for issuing threats to the officials involved in the SIR exercise.

"Some political leaders, instead of offering genuine policy alternative, resort to provocative but unsubstantiated accusations in their theatrical political strategy. A...