Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Opposition parties will march to the Supreme Court on Monday as they step up their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of “vote chori”. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge had sought a meeting with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to submit a memorandum on the issue, but sources said the CJI declined to meet Gandhi, saying similar matters are already pending before the court.
advertisement
The opposition’s protest, titled “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy”, will also press for Kumar’s resignation, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and a return to the paper ballot system. Gandhi said opposition parties, youth groups and civil society organisations would join the march, while Kharge said they wanted to place their concerns before the CJI between 4 and 5 pm on Monday.
According to sources, the CJI told Gandhi on Sunday that no orders could be passed on the administrative side and asked him to file a petition on the judicial side, which could be taken up on Tuesday. The sources said he also told Gandhi that the Supreme Court is open 24×7 for all citizens if their fundamental rights are violated, and that the court cannot interfere with executive functions on the administrative side.
Both Gandhi and Kharge had written to the CJI seeking time for a meeting to hand over their memorandum. The memorandum demanded an end to “vote chori”, Kumar’s resignation, stopping the SIR of electoral rolls, and switching back to paper ballots.
Earlier, Gandhi said the march to the Supreme Court would be taken out by Indians united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state. In a post on X, he said, “Yesterday, the nation’s youth came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons. This is not the India we want.” He added, “Tomorrow, we will march to the Supreme Court as Indians, united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state. Youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, and all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India will walk with us.”
Gandhi further said, “Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval and Mohan Bhagwat cannot silence India’s voice. These cowards cannot intimidate us. They will have to step aside. We will march together, with love, brotherhood and patriotism. Daro mat.” He also alleged that protesters in Delhi were beaten by the police and “BJP goons” on Saturday, and said they were protesting as citizens who wanted to protect the Constitution.
The Congress said leaders would gather at the Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road junction at 1.30 pm for Monday’s protest. On Friday, leaders of INDIA bloc parties had marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk and later submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu.
Speaking in Bengaluru on Sunday, Kharge said, “We have sought time (with the CJI) between 4 and 5 pm. We will apprise him, as we cannot demand. We can only request him with folded hands.” He added, “Chaos is being created in the country by the home minister and the prime minister; an undeclared emergency has been imposed.” Kharge also said, “I have written a letter, and Rahul Gandhi has also written a letter. We have scheduled a meeting between 4 and 5 pm, during which we will apprise him of the situation.” Referring to the security deployment in Delhi on Saturday, he said, “Yesterday, nearly 32,000 police personnel and 7,500 CRPF personnel were deployed. This itself shows how much the government fears the youth agitation.”
Kharge alleged that these steps showed the government did not want democracy to function peacefully in India and said, “We will continue our fight to protect democracy and the constitutional rights of the people.” AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said, “Every time one thinks that Amit Shah’s Delhi Police couldn’t hit new lows, they go lower,” and alleged that reporters from agencies, Malayalam journalists, independent bloggers and YouTubers, especially women, were detained and assaulted, which he called “completely unforgivable”.
AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the “brutal use of force and tyrannical attempts to suppress the voices of students, youth, and opposition leaders” amounted to an assault on democracy. He said, “In the arrogance of power and the obstinacy of clinging to the chair at any cost, the Modi government has committed a grave insult to the Constitution. Weakening the country’s reputation and democratic institutions in the madness of power is treason against India.”
The opposition’s sharper campaign has come days after The Indian Express reported internal differences within the Election Commission, saying election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on record at least 14 times in the last 10 months, including on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Last week, the INDIA bloc finalised a joint action plan on the SIR row, including rallies and “save democracy” marches, and Monday’s protest is the latest step in that campaign.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
