Opposition MPs on Wednesday moved towards Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demand his removal. Rahul Gandhi said the opposition would tell people that Kumar was “not a legitimate CEC” and vowed to continue the agitation, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition was united in its fight to protect people’s rights. The protest comes a day after Rahul Gandhi led an over eight-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan, following an opposition march over alleged “vote chori”, with nearly 250 protesters detained.
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi is flanked by INDIA bloc MPs and security personnel as he attempts to clear the route to Jantar Mantar after buses carrying opposition MPs were stopped by security personnel on Ashoka Road.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was on the bus with Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs, told reporters as she got off, "Is this the way? You can see what they are doing..."
Congress MPs Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Deepender Singh Hooda, Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood have climbed atop a bus heading towards Jantar Mantar. INDIA bloc MPs, including Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP, are on the bus.
Heavy security deployed near Jantar Mantar as INDIA bloc MPs are scheduled to move towards the protest site here.
Barricades were raised at multiple locations in and around the New Delhi area, with a massive deployment of the Delhi Police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.
Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday said, “since Delhi Police under Amit Shah is not allowing us to protest anywhere in the capital, all buses carrying MPs of opposition parties are now moving to Jantar Mantar - the designated spot for peaceful protests. Article 19 gives us our Constitutional right for democratic protest.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X, opposition parties of the INDIA bloc will protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar today.
Kharge said INDIA bloc would continue the agitation until their demands are met as he alleged the rights of voters were being undermined.
Kharge said that the Narendra Modi government was behind the Election Commission's actions and said the Opposition would remain united in defending democratic rights.
Kharge said they would not be deterred by the filing of cases against them and would continue their protests.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition’s plan on Wednesday was to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar after 300 MPs were allegedly not allowed to meet the Election Commissioners on Tuesday.
“Like I said yesterday, 300 MPs wanted to meet the ECs yesterday, but we were not allowed to meet them. So today, our plan is to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar,” Gandhi said.
“We want to tell the country that Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate CEC. These people are desh-drohi. Gyanesh Kumar has to resign,” he added. Gandhi also said there were 45 FIRs against him. “But my aim is for 100 FIRs,” he said. “Every FIR is a medal for me,” he added.
TMC MP Derek O’Brien said opposition parties were united in their fight against the government over the Election Commission issue, asserting that they would continue the battle “till they are out”.
Speaking after a meeting of opposition MPs hosted by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, O’Brien said the parties were together and would fight without any “egos”.
“We are all here together, we are all here united, and we are all here without any egos. We will fight the giant, till they are out,” he said.
Opposition MPs move towards Jantar Mantar in buses for holding protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, seeking his removal.