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Opposition MPs Head to Jantar Mantar to Demand CEC’s Resignation
Opposition lawmakers in India wanted to meet election officials about changes to voter lists.
They said they were not allowed to meet them or protest where they first planned.
On October 7, they gathered for lunch and then headed toward Jantar Mantar, a place set aside for protests.
They wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Rahul Gandhi said he would not be frightened by police cases against him.
Reports said a case had been registered after a protest the day before.
Opposition leaders said they were standing up for people’s rights and democracy.
Police also stopped a separate Aam Aadmi Party march at barricades.
On October 7, INDIA bloc MPs planned a sit-in at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The protest followed a lunch meeting hosted in Delhi by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Rahul Gandhi said opposition MPs had been denied a meeting with election commissioners and called Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar illegitimate.
Gandhi said he had 45 FIRs and wanted 100, calling each one a “medal”; reports say an FIR was registered over Tuesday’s protest at Akashvani Bhawan.
Opposition leaders said they would continue protesting for what they described as voters’ rights and democracy; AAP members also held a separate march that police stopped at barricades.
- Who
- INDIA bloc opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
- What
- They planned a sit-in at Jantar Mantar demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and raising concerns about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi; the MPs travelled from a lunch meeting in Janpath.
- When
- Wednesday, October 7, after an eight-hour protest on Tuesday.
- Why
- They alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and said their attempts to meet election commissioners and protest elsewhere had been blocked.
Key facts
- Date
- October 7
- Planned protest site
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Main demand
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation as Chief Election Commissioner
- Electoral issue
- The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Previous protest
- An eight-hour dharna at Akashvani Bhawan on Tuesday
- FIR claim
- Rahul Gandhi said 45 FIRs had been filed against him and that he wanted 100
- Additional action
- AAP members’ separate protest march was stopped at police barricades
Quotes
Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress president
“Are we going to be scared of an FIR? ...we have just come for lunch; we will have lunch. Our fight to save democracy and the Constitution will continue. I have received information that an FIR has been registered in which my name is also included. We are not going to be intimidated by an FIR.”
republicworld.com
“We have decided that we will together take the voice of the people to the country. We will tell the people that their rights are being taken away. We are working hard to protest those rights of people. We are all united and will continue to fight against this government.”
theprint.in
Sources
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