8 hrs ago
DMK Backs INDIA Bloc Protest Despite Staying Away
The INDIA bloc held a protest about alleged problems in updating voter lists.
The protesters wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The DMK said people have a fundamental right to protest, even though it did not join the demonstration.
The Aam Aadmi Party also did not take part.
Rahul Gandhi said about 300 MPs wanted to meet election officials.
Police stopped the MPs from marching to the Election Commission’s office.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were briefly detained.
Gandhi said the representatives should have been allowed to meet the officials.
The DMK expressed support for the INDIA bloc’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest called for the CEC’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The DMK and Aam Aadmi Party did not participate in the protest.
Rahul Gandhi said around 300 MPs were stopped from marching to the Election Commission of India headquarters.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were briefly detained after police blocked the MPs’ march.
- Who
- The INDIA bloc, including MPs led by Rahul Gandhi; the DMK voiced support but did not participate.
- What
- A protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- Near the Election Commission of India headquarters.
- When
- Tuesday.
- Why
- Protesters alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision and sought to meet the CEC.
Key facts
- Protest target
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Issue raised
- Alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Protest demand
- The CEC’s resignation
- MPs cited by Rahul Gandhi
- Around 300 from both Houses of Parliament
- Parties absent from protest
- The DMK and Aam Aadmi Party
- Detained
- Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were briefly detained
Quotes
T.K.S. Elangovan
DMK spokesperson
“When they want to protest and take out a procession to the Election Commission, they should be allowed to do so. But the BJP government stopped them from going. It is the fundamental right of an individual to protest. But they put up barricades to prevent them, so Rahul Gandhi had to climb over them.”
thehansindia.com
“Here, there were around 300 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. We wanted to meet Gyanesh Kumar and his two colleagues, but the police have stopped us. We are representatives of this country, and we represent the country's people.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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