Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi along with many Congress leaders have sat on a dharna near Akashvani Bhawan.
Before this, both of them entered the Akashvani Bhavan premises to reach the Election Commission headquarters. Despite being stopped by the police, both the leaders reached there.
Rahul Gandhi said, "What has been done to the country is treason. Be it Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, RSS chief or Gyanesh Kumar, no one will be spared."
Rahul Gandhi also raised questions over opposition MPs not meeting the election commissioners. He said, "More than 300 opposition MPs today marched from Parliament to the Election Commission to meet the Election Commissioners. We represent crores of Indians. Why is the Election Commissioner not meeting us? Why is the police stopping and threatening us?"
Earlier, MPs from the opposition India Bloc were marching from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters. The police stopped him in front of the NITI Aayog office. This place is between NITI Aayog and Akashvani Bhawan on the road that leads to the Election Commission Headquarters. After being stopped from going further, the opposition MPs sat on the road and demonstrated.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier written on X, "Gyanesh, it's done bro. Now is the time to resign."
Opposition MPs at the protest also held cutouts showing Gyanesh Kumar in RSS uniform. They raised slogans like "BJP is the Chief Election Commissioner", "Vote thief, leave the throne" and "Democracy is not for sale".
What did BJP say?
BJP has retaliated on India Block's march and Rahul Gandhi's allegations. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the march was another attempt by the Congress and its allies to "create chaos and re-launch Rahul Gandhi". He also accused Rahul Gandhi of misrepresenting the Supreme Court's remarks.
Patra said that the Supreme Court has not declared Form-6 illegal, but has issued a notice in this matter and it will be investigated further. He accused Rahul Gandhi of creating "confusion" in the country over the issue.
He said, "By opposing SIR, Congress wants to retain the names of 2.8 crore dead people in the voter list? Did Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi become MPs by 'vote theft'? If SIR is illegal, then are the Congress governments of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal also illegal?"
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also targeted Rahul Gandhi. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi was making "misleading, baseless and inconsistent" statements regarding the SIR.
What is the opposition's allegation?
Opposition India Bloc MPs are alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision or SIR of the voter list. Their demand is the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and review of the decisions related to SIR. The opposition alleges that rules were not followed in the decisions related to changes in the voter list and Form-6.
The case related to Form-6 was heard in the Supreme Court on Monday. After this, Rahul Gandhi had claimed that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had made "illegal and unilateral" changes in Form-6.
March from Parliament to Election Commission
India Bloc MPs were marching from Makar Gate of Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters on Tuesday. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee and many other opposition MPs participated in the march.
In view of the march, heavy security arrangements were made around Parliament, Sansad Marg, Akashvani Bhawan and Election Commission Headquarters. After being stopped by the police, opposition MPs protested by sitting on the road. Later Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and many other leaders were detained.
On Monday, October 5, the Supreme Court made an important comment regarding Form-6 used for adding names to the voter list. Chief Justice (CJI) Surya Kant said that the changes made in Form-6 were not approved by the Supreme Court. The court also said that after the records come out, it wants to see who made the changes in the form.
