The main opposition party Congress has claimed that the government has sent police to remove Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who was sitting on a dharna in the Akashvani Bhawan complex.
Congress posted on Twitter, "Modi-Shah have sent the police to Akashvani Bhavan, who are forcibly picking up the leader of the opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi and the MPs. Modi wants to suppress the voice with the help of police repression, but remember - now this roar is not going to be suppressed, traitor Gyanesh will have to go."
After stopping the march till the Election Commission, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been sitting on a dharna in the Akashvani Bhavan premises for the last several hours.
Rahul Gandhi, who is sitting on the dharna, has posted a video on his Facebook page in which he and Priyanka Gandhi are seen talking to a police officer.
The police asked them to move away from there, but both of them remained there. The protest by opposition leaders is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Rahul Gandhi tells the police officer, "I am just sitting." To which the police officer tells him, "Sir, go home."
Rahul replies, "Can I only go home? I can't go anywhere else in the country. I am a political man. I can't sit at home. Please tell me one place where I can go and sit."
Priyanka Gandhi, who was present with him, said, "If any person from this country wants to sit in protest, he has the right to do so. This is a normal process. You are fighting for that Constitution. Not for the two people who are sitting on the throne."
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 marched from Parliament to the Election Commission today to meet the Election Commissioners. We represent crores of Indians. Why is the Election Commissioner not meeting us? Why are 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 the 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 through '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.
He said, “Who does the Congress want to benefit by giving voting rights to absentee, people who have shifted from their address, dead and duplicate voters without any verification?”
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. BJP has rejected this claim and said that the Supreme Court has not declared Form-6 illegal.
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. Barricades were installed at many places and Rapid Action Force personnel were also deployed.
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.
The opposition had decided to hold this demonstration after the meeting of 19 opposition parties on September 30.
What did the Supreme Court say on Monday?
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.
In the revised Form-6, those registering as new voters were asked whether their or their parents' names were in the voter list prepared after the previous SIR (Special Intensive Revision).
This comment of the CJI is different from the claim made by the Election Commission in a press note dated September 26.
The Election Commission had said in this press note of September 26, "The declaration attached with Form-6 for SIR has been upheld by the Honorable Supreme Court."
The Supreme Court made this comment while hearing a petition filed by lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi alleging "unprecedented constitutional rift and illegal activities" within the Election Commission.
