New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said around 300 Lok Sabha MPs wanted to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday, but were not allowed to do so.
Speaking at the protest, Gandhi said Opposition MPs would head to Jantar Mantar and demanded that they be allowed to reach the designated protest site to demonstrate against the CEC.
“So today, our plan is to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar. We want to tell the country that Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate CEC. These people are desh-drohi. Gyanesh Kumar has to resign,” said Rahul Gandhi.
This came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted Congress MPs and INDIA bloc allies for a meal at Sagar Ratna in Delhi’s Connaught Place on Wednesday.
Rahul Gandhi Says He Wants ‘100 FIRs’
Gandhi also said he wanted “100 FIRs” to be filed against him, calling every FIR “a medal” for him. He claimed that 45 FIRs had already been filed against him.
He further said CEC Gyanesh Kumar was “not a legitimate EC for us” and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Kumar had “finished democracy”.
Gandhi also accused them of having committed “treason against the country”.
Opposition MPs Head To Jantar Mantar
Opposition MPs later boarded buses and headed towards Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demand his removal.
Ahead of the protest, Rahul Gandhi reiterated the Opposition’s position, saying, “We will tell people that for us Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate CEC.”
Derek O’Brien Says Opposition United
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said the Opposition was united in its campaign against Kumar.
“We are all here together, we are all here united, and we are all here without any egos. We will fight the giant, till they are out,” O’Brien said after a meeting of Opposition MPs called by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, ANI reported.
Protests Against CEC Continue In Delhi
The latest development follows a series of demonstrations in Delhi, where Opposition parties and student organisations have demanded Kumar’s resignation.
Delhi Police had denied permission for a protest planned at Jantar Mantar on October 2, prompting heightened security measures and the imposition of prohibitory orders across the New Delhi district. More than 700 people were detained as protesters attempted to gather near the designated protest site.
AISA national president Neha Bora said earlier on Wednesday that opposition parties, student organisations and other groups would unite for the October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar.
CJP Announces October 10 Protest
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has also been campaigning for Kumar’s resignation, announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that police notices issued to party volunteers in two states were an attempt to discourage participation in the planned agitation. The party has accused authorities of trying to suppress its campaign.
On October 7, CJP co-convenor Saurav Das formally notified Delhi Police of the proposed October 10 demonstration.
Police denied permission for the protest, according to reports. Das questioned the need for permission to demonstrate at a designated protest site, arguing that the police should focus on maintaining law and order and ensuring protesters’ safety.
Opposition Campaign Continues Over SIR
The renewed mobilisation comes against the backdrop of the Opposition’s wider campaign against the SIR exercise. Opposition parties have alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and raised concerns over voters’ rights, while demanding Kumar’s resignation.
The Election Commission has maintained that meetings with political delegations must follow established procedures.
