A group of 42 retired judges have written an open letter in which they have warned against attempts to undermine the Election Commission and other institutions. Such attempts, they argued, will erode people's faith and when the "ballot loses meaning, the street gains it". "Unrest begins with a narrative. Anarchic and fringe elements then occupy the vacuum. Some are homegrown. Some take their cues from beyond our borders," added the strongly worded letter -- which comes amid massive protests by the Opposition against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the voter list revision.