INDIA bloc announces save democracy protest from October 2, big march to EC office on October 6

PTC News Desk: The INDIA bloc has announced a week-long protest against the allegations of “vote chori” and the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protests will be held at district magistrate offices across the country from October 2 to October 8.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that all Opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission on October 6 to raise their concerns.

The Opposition leaders made the announcement after a meeting of the INDIA bloc in Delhi. They are also planning to seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to discuss what they claim is the weakening of democratic institutions.

Kharge said the Opposition would also approach the Supreme Court and request that cases related to SIR and alleged electoral irregularities be heard quickly. He announced plans for five major rallies in October and November to highlight the “vote chori” issue.

Kharge also accused some Election Commission officials of being influenced by the government and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were manipulating them. These are Opposition allegations.

Rahul Gandhi said INDIA bloc leaders were committed to continuing their campaign over what he described as an attack on Indian democracy. He claimed that the Opposition had been able to communicate its allegations about elections being “stolen” to the public, especially young people.

“There was also a feeling in the room that the opposition has been quite successful in putting a cross to the people of India that elections are stolen, that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have destroyed democracy,” he said, adding that there was “a new sense of resistance” among young people who believe that “what is going on in India is wrong and needs to be stopped”.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also criticised the Election Commission and demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She said the INDIA bloc was united on the issue and warned that the protests could be intensified if he did not step down.

The Opposition's campaign follows a report by The Indian Express claiming that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and orders related to the SIR process under Gyanesh Kumar.

The INDIA bloc leaders are expected to meet President Murmu in October to present their concerns about the electoral process and the functioning of institutions.