New Delhi, October 9 (TNA) A group of Opposition MPs led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi marched on foot from Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, demanding action over alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process and seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
A 10-member delegation later met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted a memorandum outlining the Opposition’s concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The delegation included Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, CPI general secretary D Raja and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, among others.
The Opposition has alleged large-scale irregularities in the electoral-roll revision exercise and accused the Election Commission of failing to protect voters’ rights. The INDIA bloc has demanded the suspension of the SIR process, restoration of names allegedly removed from electoral rolls and the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
After meeting the President, Rahul Gandhi alleged that votes were being “stolen” across the country. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being the alleged “mastermind” and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar of implementing the process.
“पूरा देश जानता है कि वोट चोरी हो रहे हैं। नरेंद्र मोदी इसके सूत्रधार हैं, अमित शाह और ज्ञानेश कुमार इसे लागू करने वाले हैं। भारत के राष्ट्रपति ने आज इस बात से इनकार नहीं किया,” Gandhi said, according to the statement attributed to him.
The Opposition’s allegations relate primarily to the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission. President Murmu sought evidence to support the allegations, following which the Opposition indicated that it would compile and submit documentary material.
The march and meeting formed part of a wider Opposition campaign against the Election Commission’s decisions. INDIA bloc leaders have held protests in the national capital over the past several days, raising slogans such as “Save democracy” and “Save my vote”.
The Election Commission and the government have not accepted the Opposition’s allegations of vote theft. The controversy is expected to continue in Parliament and in the courts as the parties debate the electoral-roll revision process and the safeguards for voters.