2 hrs ago
Congress Defends More Aggressive Protests Over Election Roll Revision
Congress leaders and supporters have been protesting decisions connected to the revision of voter lists.
They want Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar removed.
Congress leaders say people are angry and that police have used force against protesters.
They say this is why the protests have become more forceful, not because they are trying to copy another group.
Some protesters and police have confronted each other in the streets.
Congress leaders say they believe demonstrations are necessary because other ways of bringing change may not work right now.
Congress leaders say a more confrontational protest style reflects public anger and police actions, not an attempt to compete with the CJP.
Protests have demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and challenged decisions linked to the SIR.
The Indian Express reported that two election commissioners objected to SIR-related decisions by Kumar, saying they were made without consultation.
Congress figures say Parliament and the courts are unlikely to bring immediate change, making street protests necessary.
The article describes clashes, arrests, barricades and traffic disruptions during demonstrations, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi's confrontation with police.
- Who
- Congress leaders and supporters, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, alongside other opposition and student activists; police also responded to demonstrations.
- What
- Protests calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's removal and challenging SIR-related decisions have become more confrontational.
- Where
- New Delhi and several state capitals, including Jantar Mantar Road and a march to Rajghat.
- When
- The article describes events from September 23 through protests on Wednesday and Thursday; it does not specify the year.
- Why
- Protesters and Congress leaders cite anger over SIR-related decisions, alleged unfairness in the election system, and police actions against demonstrators.
Congress and protesters
Government and police response
Why protests have intensified
Congress and protesters
Congress leaders say public anger, alleged unfairness in the election system and police force against demonstrators have driven the more aggressive protests.
Government and police response
The article reports police efforts to contain demonstrations, including heavy barricading and preventing protesters from entering Jantar Mantar Road; it does not provide a government response to Congress's allegations.
How to seek change
Congress and protesters
A Congress MP argued that Parliament and the courts are unlikely to bring immediate change, making street protests necessary.
Government and police response
The article gives no direct response from the government or Election Commission to that argument.
Key facts
- Main demand
- Removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Issue
- Decisions connected to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- Reported objections
- The Indian Express reported on September 23 that two other election commissioners had objected to SIR-related decisions by Kumar, saying they were made without consulting them.
- CJP action
- CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke gave Kumar 48 hours to resign and later called for nationwide agitation from October 2.
- Congress position
- Congress leaders say the protests reflect public anger and police excesses, rather than an effort to compete with the CJP.
- Protest activity
- Demonstrations included clashes with police, traffic disruption, arrests and attempts to reach Jantar Mantar Road.
Quotes
Gurmehar Kaur
Indian Youth Congress activist who participated in the protests
“We were peacefully marching to Jantar Mantar and were met with a whole amount of state force and police force that was beating us, that was pulling us…”
telegraphindia.com
“You can’t expect that while the government is strangulating democracy, that people will take it lying down…”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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