Rahul Gandhi calls every FIR a "medal", sets target of 100 as opposition takes protest to Jantar Mantar
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday described the criminal cases filed against him as a "medal", as opposition MPs moved to Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The protest follows a day of confrontation with Delhi Police and a closed door at the Election Commission, and it signals that the INDIA bloc intends to keep the pressure on well beyond a single sit-in.
Adding to this, Rahul Gandhi shared that Delhi Police registering FIR against him for protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar is a medal for him. (File Photo/PTI) "There are 45 FIRs against me, my goal is 100 FIRs. Every FIR is a medal for me," Gandhi shared. The remark came as Delhi Police registered a fresh case against him and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with their supporters, for allegedly forcing their way into Akashvani Bhawan during the opposition's march against the CEC.
Meanwhile, Track live updates from protests over CEC Gyanesh Kumar row
Notably, The march is the latest step in the campaign by the INDIA bloc (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) against the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties allege that the exercise is stripping millions of genuine voters of their right to vote and that it forms part of a larger plan of "vote theft". The Election Commission has defended the SIR as a routine clean-up of voter lists, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rejected the charge.
As per the latest buzz, Gandhi shared the protest began after the Election Commission refused to engage with elected representatives. "Members of Parliament wanted to meet the Election Commissioners yesterday, specifically, the three Election Commissioners. They refused to meet us. The Delhi Police stopped us and shared that we could not protest there," he shared. The opposition says the refusal left MPs with no institutional route to raise their concerns.
In further updates, He then set out what the opposition will do on Wednesday and what it wants from the poll body. "Today, we intend to go to the designated protest site, Jantar Mantar, sit there, and declare to the nation that, for us, Mr. Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate Election Commissioner of this country," Gandhi shared. The declaration goes beyond a policy objection and challenges the standing of the man who heads the commission.
On top of that, Gandhi also widened the charge to the top of the government and the Sangh leadership. "Modi ji, Amit Shah ji, Mohan Bhagwat, and Gyanesh Kumar have destroyed the country's democracy," he shared, adding that those responsible are traitors and that action will be taken against them. "Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign," he shared, leaving no room for a negotiated outcome.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge shared every INDIA alliance partner will join the demonstration and that the protest will continue until the demand is met. "Whatever the Election Commission is doing, Narendra Modi is behind it. That means Modi himself is trying to destroy democracy," Kharge shared. He added that party members want to go to the people and tell them that their rights are being snatched away.
Source: Hindustan Times