Opposition leaders protest near Election Commission office against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and SIR process

The INDIA bloc staged a protest today just 150-200 metres from the office of the Election Commission of India, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

After Delhi Police put up heavy barricading near Akashvani Bhavan and blocked the route to the Election Commission office, opposition leaders sat on the road and staged a protest. Rahul Gandhi said during the demonstration that the Election Commissioner’s time was over and demanded his immediate resignation.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and several other prominent leaders reached the area near Akashvani Bhavan and attempted to proceed towards the Election Commission office. During the protest, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, along with several other leaders, were detained. Security personnel stopped the protesters from moving ahead.

‘Save Democracy’ march from Parliament

The march began from Makar Dwar of Parliament under the banner of ‘Save Democracy’. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule, were among those who participated.

Protesters raised slogans including “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhodo” during the march. The Election Commission, meanwhile, has rejected all allegations against it and said that the entire process is being conducted in accordance with legal rules.

Opposition leaders raise demands

During the protest, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan said that Lord Ganesha would never support anything wrong. SP MP Dharmendra Yadav questioned the BJP and said that it had no right to give explanations in support of the Election Commission.

Congress MP Syed Nasir Hussain demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, cancellation of the SIR process, restoration of the names of voters removed from the electoral rolls and a high-level investigation into the entire matter.

The Aam Aadmi Party and the DMK did not participate in today’s protest march.