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INDIA Bloc Plans Monday Protest Over Election Roll Revision
Opposition parties in India plan to hold a large protest in Delhi on Monday.
They are upset about changes to voter lists and want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to leave his job.
Several leaders and protesters were detained by police on Saturday while trying to protest.
Mamata Banerjee will stay in Delhi and join Monday’s event.
Congress says its leaders will also ask the Chief Justice of India to look into the issue.
Sonam Wangchuk said he may start a hunger strike or a long walk if detained people are not freed.
The election authority says its decisions over the past year were unanimous.
The dispute is about how voter lists were revised and how those decisions were made.
The INDIA bloc plans a protest march in Delhi on Monday, October 12, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Congress leader K. C. Venugopal called for Kumar to resign and said senior leaders would submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India.
Mamata Banerjee’s attendance is confirmed; she cancelled her return to Kolkata after Rahul Gandhi asked her to remain in Delhi.
Delhi Police detained several opposition leaders and demonstrators on Saturday as they tried to reach Jantar Mantar; many were later released.
Sonam Wangchuk warned he could begin a hunger strike or foot march if detained leaders were not released by the following day.
- Who
- The INDIA bloc, including Congress and Mamata Banerjee, plans the protest; Sonam Wangchuk issued a separate warning.
- What
- A planned Delhi protest against Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in electoral-roll revision, following Saturday detentions.
- Where
- Delhi, with demonstrators seeking to reach Jantar Mantar.
- When
- The protest is planned for Monday, October 12; the detentions occurred on Saturday, October 10.
- Why
- The INDIA bloc objects to alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and is demanding Kumar’s removal.
INDIA bloc and protest supporters
Election authority and government response
Electoral-roll revision
INDIA bloc and protest supporters
The INDIA bloc alleges irregularities in the SIR, says voters have been removed from rolls, and is demanding Kumar’s resignation and the exercise’s scrapping.
Election authority and government response
The election authority said its decisions over the past year were unanimous and that differing views are a normal part of institutional deliberation.
Handling of Saturday’s protest
INDIA bloc and protest supporters
Opposition figures condemned the detentions as an attack on democratic rights; Banerjee described her detention as akin to kidnapping.
Election authority and government response
Delhi Police took preemptive action and detained protesters as they attempted to reach Jantar Mantar; the article does not provide a detailed police justification.
Key facts
- Planned protest
- Monday, October 12, in Delhi
- Main demand
- Removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Election exercise at issue
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Congress statement
- K. C. Venugopal said a senior-leader delegation would submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India.
- Mamata Banerjee
- Her attendance at Monday’s protest is confirmed; she cancelled her planned return to Kolkata.
- Saturday detentions
- Opposition leaders and protesters were detained while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar; several were released.
- Sonam Wangchuk’s warning
- He said he could launch a hunger strike or foot march if detained leaders were not released by the following day.
- Election authority’s response
- It said decisions taken over the past year were unanimous and differing views are normal in institutional deliberations.
Quotes
Sonam Wangchuk
Ladakhi activist who threatened a hunger strike or foot march if detained leaders were not released.
“We appeal to every Indian concerned about the survival of Indian democracy to join us in a massive protest march in Delhi on Monday - against the nationwide Vote Chori orchestrated by the Modi-Shah regime. Yesterday, we held a comprehensive meeting with various leaders to prepare for this march. INDIA MPs, leaders, workers and all concerned citizens will be holding a huge protest march against Gyanesh & Co, and a delegation of our senior leaders will submit a memorandum to the Hon'ble CJI for 그의”
NDTV
“Yesterday when I posted a message appealing for unity and peace in today's protest, I had never imagined that the biggest democracy in the world would be under an undeclared EMERGENCY.”
wionews.com
Sources
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