Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 8: Opposition MPs and Congress workers headed towards Rajghat on Thursday after a lunch meeting in Connaught Place, as the INDIA bloc continued its protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission's handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge hosted the INDIA bloc leaders for lunch at Moets in Connaught Place. The gathering was followed by plans to proceed to Rajghat for a sit-in and to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai said the Opposition would proceed to Rajghat and hold a peaceful protest. The mobilisation comes a day after Rahul Gandhi and several other opposition leaders were detained by Delhi Police after they attempted to proceed towards Jantar Mantar for a protest against the Election Commission.
Kharge said the INDIA bloc would pray for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to "realise" that their actions were not in the nation's interest. The Opposition has been raising allegations of "vote theft" along with concerns over inflation, unemployment and what it describes as an erosion of people's rights.
Rahul Gandhi has alleged that around 300 MPs from both Houses of Parliament were stopped from protesting outside the Election Commission and at Jantar Mantar. He has also alleged that some MPs were assaulted during the protests. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that no political party had sought an appointment through its authorised representatives before the stipulated time on Tuesday, under the procedure for meetings with the poll panel.
The protests have intensified following reports about objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over decisions related to the SIR process. The Election Commission has said that differences and observations are part of institutional deliberations and maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow established procedures.
Security has been tightened across central Delhi, particularly around Rajghat and the Election Commission headquarters, with Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed and roads barricaded in anticipation of further demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the Opposition is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu on Friday. Rashtrapati Bhavan has agreed to receive a 10-member delegation, with Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee among those expected to be part of the delegation.
The continuing protests are centred on the Opposition's allegations concerning the electoral rolls and SIR, with the INDIA bloc demanding accountability from the Election Commission and seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The poll panel has rejected allegations of wrongdoing.