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Rahul Gandhi Says Government Will Go, Democracy Repair Follow
Rahul Gandhi said India’s democracy needs to be repaired.
He said that would happen after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the current government leave office.
Opposition groups are concerned about changes to voter lists called the Special Intensive Revision.
They planned a protest at Jantar Mantar, but Delhi Police did not give permission.
Police and other security personnel were deployed ahead of the event, and officials prepared places to take people who were detained.
M K Stalin said protesters should not be silenced and called for detained people to be released.
Activist Abhijeet Dipke said he would keep speaking out about what he described as deleted votes.
The Election Commission has said that differing views among its members are normal and that its orders follow legal procedures.
Rahul Gandhi said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Modi government would leave, after which democracy’s repair would begin.
Gandhi told INDIA bloc MPs that opposition pressure could bring down the government, describing the issue as deeper than Kumar alone.
Opposition demands over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls followed reports of commissioners objecting to related decisions.
A protest at Jantar Mantar was planned for October 10 despite Delhi Police denying permission; authorities increased security and prepared detention centres.
M K Stalin condemned detentions and alleged repression of peaceful demonstrators, while activist Abhijeet Dipke said he would continue campaigning over alleged vote deletions.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, opposition leaders and activists, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Delhi Police.
- What
- Gandhi said Kumar and the government would go before democracy could be repaired; opposition groups planned a protest over electoral-roll revisions.
- Where
- New Delhi, including the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan and Jantar Mantar.
- When
- October 10; Gandhi made the remarks to INDIA bloc MPs on Friday and posted on X on Saturday.
- Why
- Opposition groups are demanding accountability over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and raising concerns about alleged vote deletions.
Opposition and protest voices
Election Commission and authorities
Electoral-roll revision
Opposition and protest voices
Opposition figures and activists raised concerns about the Special Intensive Revision and alleged that voters had been deprived of voting rights.
Election Commission and authorities
The Election Commission said differing views within the institution are normal and its orders carry legal sanction and follow established procedures.
Protest response
Opposition and protest voices
M K Stalin described the response to demonstrations as repression and said dissent should not be treated as a crime.
Election Commission and authorities
Delhi Police denied permission for the Jantar Mantar demonstration and stepped up security, with teams instructed to detain people attempting to protest.
Key facts
- Proposed protest
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on October 10
- Police permission
- Delhi Police denied permission for the demonstration
- Reported deployment
- More than 35,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel
- Detention locations
- Six centres were designated for people detained
- Gandhi's statement
- He said Kumar and the government would go before democracy’s repair began
- Election Commission response
- It said differing views are normal and its orders follow statutory procedures
- Vote-deletion allegation
- Abhijeet Dipke claimed more than 13 crore votes had been deleted
Quotes
Abhijeet Dipke
Cockroach Janta Party activist
“We will ensure Gyanesh Kumar resigns, because over 13 crore votes have been deleted and people are being stripped of their voting rights; we will keep fighting for that cause. We have to save the democracy of India.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Dissent is not a crime, and democracy cannot survive by silencing those who rise to defend it. The resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is non-negotiable.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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