NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday demanded the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as opposition parties, student groups and civil society organisations held protests in Delhi and Mumbai over alleged irregularities in the electoral-roll revision exercise.In a post on X on Gandhi Jayanti, the Raebareli MP said thousands of young people were protesting peacefully against what he called “vote theft” and alleged that hundreds had been detained.“Today is Gandhi Jayanti. And today, thousands of young people are on the streets against vote theft – peacefully, without violence, exercising their constitutional rights. Their demand is clear: Gyanesh Kumar must resign. Save democracy,” the Congress leader said.He alleged that the response of the “Modi-Shah government” had been to detain protesters.“And the Modi-Shah government’s response? Boys and girls are being dragged off the streets. Hundreds are in custody. Their only crime is that they dared to question vote theft,” he said.Former Congress president also invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings on non-violence and truth, saying, “Bapu taught us exactly this – speak the truth, fight peacefully. And that’s what scares this government the most.”“Because a lathi can stop a crowd, but not a question. Gyanesh Kumar will go. And the system that put him there will go too,” he added.
Around 700 detained in Delhi
Opposition parties and student organisations attempted to gather near Jantar Mantar in Delhi, with the AAP, All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and other youth groups demanding Kumar’s resignation.According to news agency PTI, around 700 protesters were detained by Delhi Police. Protesters were stopped at several points, including Firoz Shah Road and Ashoka Road, as they tried to proceed towards Jantar Mantar.AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi and Sanjeev Jha were among those detained, while Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was stopped on his way to the protest. Internet services were suspended in central Delhi and entry and exit gates at 12 metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat, were closed as part of security arrangements.SFI general secretary Aishe Ghosh said activists of the SFI and Democratic Youth Federation of India were also detained. AAP leaders alleged that police action would not stop their campaign.“We are protesting because the EC is responsible for protecting the sanctity of every vote. When questions are being raised within the commission itself over decisions concerning the electoral roll, the country deserves answers and accountability,” IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib said, according to PTI.
Protests in Mumbai and questions over SIR
Protests were also held at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, where thousands attended a demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and other groups seeking Kumar’s resignation.CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke warned of “Jantar Mantar 2.0” if Kumar did not step down, while party leader Ajinkya Shinde demanded his resignation and criminal proceedings. The CJP also called for the freezing of the 2025 voter lists and the abolition of the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners.Dipke made several allegations concerning voter deletions and additions across states, including Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. These claims were made by him during the protest and were not independently established in the supplied reports.
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The protests came after an Indian Express report claimed that election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months on decisions and procedures linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and other electoral matters.The Election Commission rejected the suggestion that these objections represented institutional dissent, saying operational queries, inputs and suggestions during the draft stage were part of its normal administrative and decision-making process.The ECI said decisions on the SIR schedule were unanimous.The opposition’s campaign is expected to continue, with further programmes planned, including one on October 6 and a major rally in Delhi on November 1.
