The INDIA bloc’s protest against the Election Commission entered its third consecutive day in Delhi on Thursday, October 8, with opposition MPs heading to Rajghat after a lunch meeting in Connaught Place.
The opposition has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the electoral process and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.
The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected the allegations.
Rahul Gandhi Says Opposition Will Continue Protest
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the opposition had been prevented from holding peaceful protests for the past two days.
“We have been prevented from protesting for two days now. On the first day, we were stopped outside the Election Commission. Subsequently, we expressed our desire to protest at Jantar Mantar, yet yesterday, as you witnessed, we were stopped there as well; our people were assaulted,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat of “hijacking India through a criminal conspiracy”, destroying the Constitution and “stealing votes”.
He said the opposition would take action against those responsible.
“We, the Opposition, assure you that action will be taken. They will be brought to justice. This is our guarantee. You will see these four individuals brought to justice,” Gandhi said.
Opposition MPs Head to Rajghat
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said INDIA bloc MPs would hold a peaceful sit-in at Gandhi Smarak at Rajghat after their lunch meeting.
Kharge said the MPs would pray for wisdom for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP government. He also cited alleged “vote theft”, inflation and problems faced by young people as concerns behind the protest.
The opposition leaders travelled to Rajghat in buses after the meeting. Visuals showed MPs raising slogans during the journey.
Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh said the INDIA bloc would continue its protest and was “not going back”.
“We have a strong protest, an aggressive protest against Gyanesh Kumar. We are not going back,” Suresh said.
Protests Continue Across Delhi
The latest protest follows two days of demonstrations in the national capital.
On Tuesday, INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament, after which Rahul Gandhi staged an eight hour sit in at Akashvani Bhawan. On Wednesday, opposition leaders moved their protest to Jantar Mantar, where several MPs were detained after a confrontation with police.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was among those who protested on the road while holding a copy of the Constitution.
The opposition has also sought a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu over its concerns about the electoral process. Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said the bloc sent its first request on October 2 and submitted the names of participating leaders again on October 5.
“We will wait until Friday,” Venugopal said, adding that no response had been received from Rashtrapati Bhavan so far.
The Election Commission has rejected the opposition’s allegations, while BJP leaders have called for the issue to be addressed through dialogue with the poll body.
