India Bloc Meet: ‘Save Democracy March’ announced: INDIA bloc projects unity amid SIR row, targets PM Modi, Amit Shah | India News
NEW DELHI: The INDIA bloc on Wednesday announced a series of nationwide protests against the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, seeking to project opposition unity amid the ongoing row over voter rolls.Addressing a press conference after the INDIA bloc meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the alliance would hold district-level “Save Democracy” marches and demonstrations outside district magistrate offices from October 2 to 8.“From October 2 to 8, we will hold district-level ‘Save Democracy’ marches and stage demonstrations outside the offices of every district magistrate. We will also make people aware of why we are undertaking this campaign,” Kharge said.He said all opposition MPs would march to the Election Commission on October 6. Kharge said the opposition had initially planned to hold the march on Wednesday but decided to organise it later with greater participation.“On October 6, all opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission. We wanted to go today itself, but we decided to call the MPs again and organise the protest properly, so we have fixed October 6 for the march,” he said.Kharge added that Rajya Sabha members and MPs from all parties, as well as those who wanted to “protect democracy in the country”, would be invited to join the march.The alliance also plans to seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October. Leaders of the opposition will submit a representation outlining what Kharge described as the difficulties they were facing and the constitutional issues involved.A fourth phase of the campaign will comprise five major rallies, with their dates and venues to be announced later.The INDIA bloc meeting also saw Kharge reiterate his criticism of the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He alleged that the poll panel was being influenced by the government and said the parties had agreed to fight the issue together.“From October 2 to 8, we will hold district-level ‘Save Democracy’ marches and stage demonstrations outside the offices of every District Magistrate. We will also make people aware of why we are undertaking this campaign,” Kharge said.Addressing the briefing, ex-Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the CEC and call on him to resign.“He (CEC Gyanesh Kumar) must resign immediately. Let us save the democracy and make the security of the people, the voting rights… It is our constitutional rights. It is our obligation to the people. If people are not voting, if their voting are been looted and cheated, then where the country will go? So, our request…
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it our demand. Our forceful demand,” the former Bengal CM said.The opposition has demanded a rollback of the SIR exercise, greater transparency in electoral rolls and safeguards against the exclusion of eligible voters. Kharge also called for the use of pre-SIR electoral rolls for future elections and sought prior notice, reasons and an effective appeal mechanism before legitimate voters are removed.
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The meeting was attended by representatives of Congress, SP, AITC, NCP(SP), SS (UBT), RJD, CPM, CPI, JKNC, JKPDP, JMM, CPI-ML, IUML, KC(M), MDMK, VCK, RSP, KC(J) and AIFB.
